Children's dentistry

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a first dental visit by a child's first birthday, or within six months of the first tooth. A first visit at that age is usually short and simple: a gentle look, a chance for your child to get used to the chair, and practical tips for you on brushing, teething and bottles.

If your child is older and hasn't been yet, that's fine. Call us and we'll talk through timing and the best way to start. After that first visit, most kids do well with a checkup about every six months.

We keep it short, explain each step in words a kid understands, and let them see and touch the tools before we use them. Parents can stay close. The visit usually includes:

• A gentle cleaning to remove plaque and tartar, and a polish.
• An exam of every tooth, the gums, the bite, and how the jaw is developing.
• Digital x-rays only when they're actually needed, with far less radiation than old film x-rays.
• Fluoride, if it's right for your child.
• A few minutes of coaching on brushing and flossing, made fun instead of scolding.
• A plain summary for you: what's healthy, what to watch, and whether anything needs treatment.

Most cavities in kids start in the deep grooves of the back teeth, where toothbrush bristles can't reach. A sealant is a thin, clear coating painted into those grooves on the molars and premolars. It takes a few minutes per tooth, involves no drilling or numbing, and can protect the tooth for up to 10 years. The best time is soon after the permanent back teeth come in.

Fluoride strengthens enamel and helps it resist decay. Kids get some from toothpaste and tap water, and a quick in-office treatment adds more protection for children who are prone to cavities. It's painted on in seconds.

Yes, more than most people think. Baby teeth help kids chew and speak clearly, and they hold the space the adult teeth will need. When a baby tooth is lost early to decay, neighboring teeth can drift into the gap, which can crowd the adult teeth later. A cavity in a baby tooth can also hurt, get infected, and make school and sleep miserable. Keeping baby teeth healthy until they fall out on their own saves trouble down the road.

Even kids who brush well get cavities sometimes. When they do, we fill them with tooth-colored composite shaded to blend in. The decay is removed, the tooth is cleaned, and the filling is set with a curing light. We numb the tooth, go slowly, and explain every step. Catching cavities while they're small keeps fillings small and visits quick.

If decay reaches the soft center of a baby tooth, the pulp, it can cause a toothache or infection. Pulp therapy, sometimes called a baby tooth root canal, removes the infected tissue and saves the tooth so it can keep holding space. The tooth is usually finished with a custom crown to protect it until it's ready to fall out. It's often a better option than pulling the tooth early.

If your child plays football, basketball, soccer, baseball, martial arts or any contact sport, a mouthguard is cheap insurance against a broken or knocked-out tooth. We make custom guards from a digital scan, no messy putty. A custom guard fits snugly, stays put, and is easier to breathe and talk through than a boil-and-bite guard from the sporting goods store, so kids actually keep it in.

Tell us when you book if your child is scared, has had a hard visit before, or has special needs. We'll plan extra time, keep the pace slow, and use simple, honest words. Try not to use the dentist as a threat at home, and skip words like shot or hurt before the visit; we'll explain things in a way that fits your child.

For a longer or harder visit, nitrous oxide can help some kids stay relaxed while staying awake. Both of our dentists see kids, and we'll always talk it through with you first.

• Brush twice a day for two minutes. Use a smear of fluoride toothpaste the size of a grain of rice for toddlers, and a pea-sized amount from about age three.
• Help with brushing until your child can do it well on their own, usually around age seven or eight.
• Start flossing once teeth touch each other.
• Keep juice, soda and sticky snacks to mealtimes, and make water the everyday drink.
• Don't put a baby to bed with a bottle of milk or juice.

Parents and kids can often book back to back or at the same time, which saves a second trip to Mesquite. There's a nursing room if you're bringing a baby along, and both dentists and members of the team speak Spanish.

We're in network with many major dental plans, and most plans cover children's checkups, cleanings and x-rays as preventive care. Coverage for sealants and fluoride varies by plan and age. Call with your child's plan information and we'll check it before the visit. Any treatment is explained and priced in writing first.