Ole Brook Pediatric Dentistry FAQs

Pediatric dentists have unique skills that involve undergoing additional training for up to three years after graduating from dental school. Their practice is dedicated to the overall oral health of the child from infancy into the teenage years. 

When it comes to infants, toddlers, school-age children, preteens, and teenagers, each child has specific needs, and different approaches to managing behavior as well as the development of a relationship between the patient and the doctor are utilized. 

The pediatric dentist will guide your child through dental growth along with helping them avoid dental issues that may occur in the future. Only a pediatric dentist is qualified to handle these matters in the best way for a child.

Many people don't understand the importance of maintaining healthy primary teeth. Cavities that are neglected in primary teeth usually will lead to problems that directly affect permanent teeth. 

Baby teeth, as primary teeth are often called, are needed for proper chewing, providing the space needed for permanent teeth so that the permanent teeth are guided correctly into position, and permitting healthy development of jawbones and muscles. 

Primary teeth also play a role in the development of speech. There are four front teeth that usually last until the child is six or seven years of age while the molars and cuspids will usually last until age 10 to 13.

The teeth begin to form while you're an embryo in your mother's womb. The primary teeth (or baby teeth) can begin to erupt through the gums in as little as four months, and the teeth that come first are the lower central incisors followed by the upper central incisors. 

By the time the child is three years of age, all 20 primary teeth should be visible in the mouth, however the order and pace of the eruption can vary between each child.

When the child has reached six years of age, the permanent teeth will now begin to appear. It will start with the first molars along with the lower central incisors. 

At eight years of age, the bottom four primary teeth, also known as the lower central and lateral incisors, along with the top four primary teeth, also known as the upper central and lateral incisors, should now be replaced by the permanent teeth. There tends to be a one to two-year hiatus between the ages of eight and 10 for the rest of the permanent teeth to erupt, and this process of this eruption will continue until the patient has reached 21 years of age.

The adult will have 28 permanent teeth or up to  32 teeth if you include the third molars (also known as wisdom teeth).

• Toothache: The area of the affected tooth needs to be cleaned. Thoroughly rinse your mouth with warm water or try to dislodge any food particles causing the toothache with dental floss. If the toothache persists, contact your dentist. Do not place heat or salicylic acid (aspirin) on the aching tooth or on the gum. If the face becomes swollen, use a cold compress directly on the swollen area and immediately contact your dentist.
• Cut (or bitten) tongue, lips, or cheek: To control the swelling, apply ice to the injured area. If the area is bleeding, use firm but gentle pressure on the area with gauze or with cloth. If the bleeding cannot be stopped by applying simple pressure, contact your doctor or hospital emergency room.
• Knocked-out permanent tooth: Find the tooth if it's possible and handle it by the crown (not by the root!), rinse the tooth with water (but do not clean with soap, scrub, or handle the tooth in an unnecessary way), and inspect tooth for any fractures that may have occurred. If the tooth is not broken, and as long as it's clean, try to reinsert the tooth back into your gum socket. Have the child bite into gauze or a clean cloth to hold the tooth in place. If the tooth cannot be reinserted, put the tooth in a cup with the child's saliva in it or place it in milk (do not use water!). If the child is old enough, the tooth can be carried in the child's mouth next to the cheek. It is imperative that the child see a dentist without delay since time is critical in order for the tooth to be saved.
• Knocked-out baby tooth: Take your child to a pediatric dentist. The baby teeth should not be replanted since they can do damage to the developing permanent tooth. Treatment is usually not necessary in this situation.
• Chipped or fractured permanent tooth: Contact the pediatric dentist as soon as possible when it comes to a damaged permanent tooth since dental infections or the need for extensive dental work is possible if treatment is not given soon enough. Rinse the child's mouth with water. To reduce swelling, apply a cold compress, and if it's possible, bring the broken tooth piece to the dentist.
• Chipped or fractured baby tooth: Get a hold of your pediatric dentist for instructions.
• Severe blow to the head: Dial 911 immediately or get your child to the nearest emergency room without delay.
• Broken or fractured jaw: Keep the jaw stabilized to keep it from moving and take your child to the nearest emergency room.
• Call us to find out more about preventing dental emergencies during sports and recreational activities with the use of mouth guards.

Radiographs, also known as x-rays, have proven to be invaluable in the diagnostic process for dental health. If not for radiography, dental conditions would be overlooked routinely, and x-rays detect more than just cavities. 

Radiographs, for instance, are used to survey erupting teeth, check for bone diseases, evaluate the severity of an injury, or help plan for treatment involving orthodontics. X-rays allow dentists to treat and diagnose various health conditions that would not be possible to detect at first glance during any clinical examination. 

Dealing with dental problems early is the key to treating them effectively, and, of course, this will ensure more comfort for your child in the long run while at the same time being less costly since expensive dental work can effectively be avoided.

The recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry when it comes to radiographs and clinical examinations involve bringing your child to the dentist every six months if the child has a high risk of tooth decay. Usually, most pediatric dentists will implement a radiograph once a year on average. Every three years or so, it's best to obtain a thorough set of x-rays, whether they be panoramic and bitewings or periapicals and bitewings to help ensure optimum dental health.

Each pediatric dentist is specially trained to carefully operate an x-ray machine, and all contemporary safeguards are applied. There's a very small amount of radiation involved in a dental x-ray, so there is barely any risk involved. In the long run, dental radiographs are less risky than undetected dental issues. Your child will be protected by shields and a lead body apron. Today's state-of-the-art equipment will filter out any unnecessary radiation and restrict the x-ray beam only to the area of concern. 

Standard x-ray machines involve high-speed film in the modern-day, and this combined with proper shielding will ensure that your child only receives a negligible amount of x-ray radiation.

We always recommend that children learn how to brush their teeth properly at an early age. There are a variety of toothpastes on the market along with tooth polishes, however there are some preparations that we recommend against using due to the fact that they can damage young teeth. 

Some toothpastes have harsh abrasives in them which can easily wear away tooth enamel in baby teeth. We recommend that toothpastes approved by the American Dental Association be the only ones used for children. You'll be able to see on the box of toothpaste whether it is approved by the ADA or not. 

If the child is less than three years of age, use only a minuscule amount of toothpaste equivalent to the size of a grain of rice. Use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on your child's toothbrush if the child is between the ages of three and six. Make sure that you assist your child's toothbrushing to ensure the proper application of the toothbrush. Children should never swallow excessive amounts of toothpaste after brushing, so make sure the child's mouth is thoroughly rinsed.

You may be concerned about the nocturnal grinding of teeth (bruxism). Often, the first indication is the noise created by your child grinding on their teeth during sleep. Or, you may notice wear (teeth getting shorter) to the dentition. 

One theor as to the cause involves a psychological component like stress due to a new environment, divorce, changes at school, or similar concerns. Another theory relates to pressure in the inner ear at night. If there are pressure changes (like in an airplane during take-off and landing, when people are chewing gum to equalize pressure) your childe may be grinding by moving his jaw to relieve this pressure.

The majority of cases of pediatric bruxism do not require any treatment. If excessive wear of the teeth (attrition) is present, then a mouth guard (nightguard) may be indicated. The negatives to a mouth guard are the possibility of choking if the applicance becomes dislodged during sleep and it may interfere with the growth of the jaws. The positive is obvious by preventing wear to the primary dentition.

The good news is most children outgrow bruxism. The grinding decreases between the ages six to nine and children tend to stop grinding between ages nine to 12. If you suspect bruxism, discuss this with your pediatrician or pediatric dentist.

It's perfectly normal for an infant or young child to suck his or her thumb. Sometimes they may use fingers, pacifiers, or other objects to suck on if it makes them feel secure and relaxed. Psychologically, this provides a sense of security during difficult times for the child.

If thumbsucking persists after the primary teeth have erupted, this can cause problems with permanent teeth regarding tooth alignment and proper growth of the mouth. Depending on how intensely a child will suck on things can indicate what kinds of dental problems may occur afterwards. Children who passively rest their thumbs in their mouths are not likely to have any dental problems.

A child will usually cease thumbsucking by the ages of two, three, or maybe four. One of the reasons for this is peer pressure caused by other school-age children. Pacifiers do not qualify as a substitute for thumbsucking since they can do the same kind of damage to teeth. Using a pacifier, however, can be modified and controlled in a much easier way than a thumbsucking habit can be modified. Consult your pediatric dentist if you have any concerns about your child's thumbsucking situation.

Here are a few ways in which you can help your child:

• When a child feels insecure, he or she will suck the thumb to try and cope. Try to focus on what is causing the anxiety more so than the thumbsucking habit itself.
• Thumbsucking usually is reduced when a parent provides comfort to the child.
• Give the child a reward if they demonstrate willpower to prevent thumbsucking during difficult times.
• Talk your pediatric dentist as to what can be done help your child break the thumbsucking habit.

If these four steps prove ineffective, try bandaging the child's thumb or putting a sock around the child's hand at night. A pediatric dentist can also recommend the use of a mouthpiece.

The pulp is at the central core of each tooth and contains blood vessels, connective tissue, nerves, and various reparative cells. Pulp therapy is used by pediatric dentistry to ensure the vitality of the damaged tooth so the tooth is not lost. 

Cavities and injuries are the main reason why pulp therapy would be applied and is often referred to as a "children's root canal", "nerve treatment", "pulpectomy", or "pulpotomy". The two latter terms are often the two common forms of pulp therapy for children. 

A pulpotomy removes the diseased pulp tissue within the crown portion of the child's tooth, and this is followed by an agent being applied to prevent growth of bacteria and to nourish the remaining nerve tissue along with a final restoration involving a stainless steel crown.

A pulpectomy is required when the entire pulp is infected and has gone all the way to the root canal of the tooth. This procedure removes all pulp tissue that is diseased from the crown and the root. After the canals are cleansed and disinfected, a resorbable material will then fill in the gap if it is a primary tooth. At the very end, a final restoration is placed. A permanent tooth would be filled with a non-resorbing material.

When it comes to bad bites and malocclusions, these can be identified as early as two to three years of age in the child. There are number of steps that can be taken early to reduce any major orthodontic treatment procedures needed at a later age. These steps include:

• Stage I - Early Treatment: This period is for children ages two to six years of age. When the child is this young, the concern involves the underdeveloped dental arches, any premature loss of primary teeth, thumbsucking habits, and the like. When treatment is initiated at this stage of development, there is a very high success rate, and in many cases (but not always), any future need for orthodontic or orthopedic treatment becomes unnecessary.
• Stage II - Mixed Dentition: This is for when your child is between the ages of six and 12 years of age. The permanent incisor teeth (front teeth) along with the six-year molars have by now erupted, and the treatment is now concerned with jaw malformations or dental realignment issues. This is probably the best stage to start treatment if the aforementioned is indicated since the child's hard and soft tissues become very responsive to orthodontic or orthopedic procedures.
• Stage III - Adolescent Dentition: This is the stage that will deal with the permanent teeth and the final bite relationship.

It's a common occurrence with children where the primary teeth do not fall out like they should. This is particularly common when it comes to the result of a lower primary tooth not falling out when a permanent tooth is erupting, and many cases, the children can simply wiggle the baby tooth to make it fall on its own usually within two months. 

If this proves ineffective, contact your pediatric dentist to have the baby tooth removed. The permanent tooth should end up falling in the proper place afterwards.

The AAPD (American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry) recommends that each and every pregnant woman receives adequate oral healthcare and whatever counseling is needed during pregnancy. 

Research shows that periodontal disease has been known to increase the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight in the child, so we recommend that you talk to your doctor or dentist about how periodontal disease can be prevented if you are expecting.

A mother with poor oral health increases the risk of bacteria caused from cavities infecting her unborn child. Each pregnant woman should follow these six simple steps to reduce the prevalence of bacteria:

• Regularly visit your dentist.
• Reduce bacterial plaque by brushing and flossing daily.
• Maintain a proper diet that involves the reduction of foods high in sugar and starch
• Use only an ADA-recommended fluoridated toothpaste. Also, rinse each night with an alcohol free, OTC mouth rinse with at least .05% sodium fluoride to reduce plaque.
• Prevent the transmission of cavity-causing bacteria to your child by not sharing cups, food, or utensils with anyone else
• Use up to four pieces of xylitol chewing gum to reduce the caries rate of the child.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) along with the American Dental Association (ADA) and the AAPD (American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry) together recommend establishing what is known as a "dental home" for each child at least one year of age.

Appropriate preventive and routine oral healthcare are more likely when children become acclimated to a particular dentist that they like. This "dental home" is a substitute for the emergency room should a dental emergency arise.

The first visit to the dentist should be a positive experience of the child. If your child is old enough, he or she should be informed of the dental visit and that the doctor is there to help with any and all problems with their teeth. The child should also be told that all procedures will be explained by the dentist and that the child is free to ask any questions. This will reduce any anxiety the child may have.

We don't recommend that you use words that might cause fear such as "needle", "pull", "drill", or "hurt". The pediatric dentist is trained to use words that convey the same message but in a nonthreatening way to the child.

The process of a baby's teeth erupting is called teething. This is a variable process depending on the child, and some babies get their teeth early while others get them much later. The first baby teeth to appear are almost always the  lower front (anterior) teeth which will begin to erupt between the ages of six to eight months.

Baby bottle tooth decay is a serious form of decay that is common among young children. The frequent and long exposures of an infant's teeth to sugary liquids causes this condition, and fruit juice, formula, sweetened drinks, and even milk (this includes breastmilk) are among the culprits.

When a baby is placed in a crib for a nap or at nighttime with a bottle instead of water, this can cause rapid tooth decay. Plaque bacteria has a better opportunity to produce acids in these sweet liquid pools around the infant's teeth which will eat through the tooth enamel.

 If the baby must have a bottle for comfort at bedtime, we recommend that you fill it only with water. If the infant needs to have the usual beverage in the bottle in order to fall asleep, we recommend you dilute the contents of the bottle with water over the course of two to three weeks.

Wipe the baby's gums and teeth after each feeding with a wet washcloth or gauze pad so that plaque can be removed. One of the easiest ways we recommend doing this is to place the baby's head in your lap when you sit down, or you can lay your baby on the floor or a bed. It's important that you can see into the baby's mouth clearly, so use whatever position works best.

We recommend that sippy cups be used only as a training tool from the bottle to a cup for an infant. It should be discontinued by the time the child is one year of age. If your child is using a sippy cup in the daytime, only fill it with water except when it's time for the child to eat. Allowing the child to routinely drink sugary liquids from the sippy cup will soak the child's teeth in sweeteners and cavity-causing bacteria.

Here are some brushing tips:

• Make sure your child's gums are cleaned. You can do this by using a soft cloth and water, and we recommend that you do this starting at birth.
• Brush your child's teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush after the teeth erupt.
• Use a rice-grain-sized amount of toothpaste if the child is under the age of two.
• Use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste if the child is between the ages of two and five.
• Only use an ADA-approved fluoride toothpaste for your child making certain the child does not swallow any of it.
• Parents should brush a child's teeth until the child is old enough to do it on his or her own

Here's some flossing tips:

• Floss any area in the mouth where two teeth touch
• Floss your child's teeth on a daily basis until he or she can do it without any help
• Talk to your pediatric dentist to find out which flossing methods are best

Healthy teeth go hand-in-hand with healthy eating habits, and just like the rest of the body, the teeth, soft tissues of the mouth, and bones do best with a well-balanced diet. 

We wholeheartedly recommend that children receive foods from all the five major food groups. As dentists, we (not surprisingly) recommend against the high consumption of snacks that are high in sugars and starches since this can lead to the formation of cavities. The more a child eats sweets, the more likely it will be for tooth decay. When sugar remains in the mouth for a long time (such is the case with hard candies and breath mints), this will play a more prominent role in tooth decay leading to cavities. The acid will attack the tooth enamel due to how long the sugary food remains in the mouth. It's best to give your child nutritious foods such as vegetables, low-fat cheese, and low-fat yogurt to better the child's health.

The best way for your child to remove bacteria and leftover food particles that both contribute to tooth decay and cavities is to have good oral hygiene. Wipe an infant's gums and teeth with wet gauze or a clean washcloth. We recommend against putting your baby to bed with a bottle full of anything besides water. 

You should brush your child's teeth at least twice a day. Also, be aware of how much sugar the child consumes. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that each child visits the dentist at least every six months after the child is at least one year of age. Good dental health starts with routine dental visits. Home fluoride treatments and protective sealants for your child is also something your pediatric dentist may recommend. Sealants will prevent tooth decay on hard-to-clean surfaces on your child's molars.

Fluorine is a chemical element that can be combined with sodium to form the compound sodium fluoride, which has been proven to prevent tooth decay by as much as 50 to 70%.

At the same time, however, too little or too much fluoride can be harmful to teeth. Without fluoride or with too little of it, teeth are not able to resist cavities nearly as well. If young children ingest too much fluoride, this can lead to dental fluorosis. This is typically a white discoloration, sometimes brown in advanced cases, of the permanent teeth. 

Your pediatric dentist will give you all the data you need know on how to use fluoride the correct way for your child.

For children under three years of age, use a small smear of toothpaste on the toothbrush. A pea-sized amount of toothpaste is for children from ages three to six. We recommend that you always perform brushing your child's teeth the correct way or assist your child in brushing his or her teeth since the child has not yet figured out how to do it effectively. Children should always spit out any excess toothpaste after brushing to prevent fluorosis.

Injuries are almost inevitable when your child participates in organized sports or recreational activities. The mouth protector, also called a mouthguard, is a vital piece of athletic gear to help protect your children's teeth. We recommend that this protector be used in any activity that could result in a facial blow. 

Mouthguards are used to prevent teeth from breaking as well as prevent injuries to the tongue, face, lips, or jaw. The mouthguard should always fit properly so that it stays in place. This will enable the child to speak and breathe much easier. Your pediatric dentist has all the data you need as to what mouth protectors are best.

The AAPD (American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry) has recognized that xylitol has significant benefits for the oral health of infants, children, adolescents, and anyone else with specialized healthcare needs. The use of xylitol gum by mothers (up to four times per day) beginning at three months after delivery up until the child reaches the age of two reduce cavities by up to 70% by the time the child reached five years of age. 

Xylitol has been shown to be a valid sugar substitute that dramatically reduces tooth decay as well as reversing some existing dental caries. Xylitol will even provide additional protection to enhance prevention methods already in use. In fact, low tooth decay rates have been shown even years after experimental trials have ended, and this means that the effect xylitol has is very long-lasting.

Some sources that contain xylitol include roots, mushrooms, lettuce, berries, hardwoods, and corncobs. There's less than one gram of xylitol in one cup of raspberries. Divided into three to seven consumption periods, positive results usually range from two to 20 grams of xylitol per day. There was no evidence of higher quantities leading to any greater reduction of tooth decay and could possibly diminish results. Consuming xylitol less than three times per day also showed no noticeable effect.

Visit your local health store or search the internet to find various products containing xylitol.

Sports drinks have a very high acid and sugar content. This, of course, is easily able to lead to tooth decay and cavities by eroding the fluoride-rich enamel of your teeth. We recommend that children avoid sports drinks and hydrate with water instead if they're going to participate in sports. Always speak to your pediatric dentist before giving your children any type of sports drink. If your child does consume sports drinks:

• Keep the consumption to a minimum, and make sure your child rinses his or her teeth with water afterwards (alternating sips of water with the drink helps)
• Teach your kids not to swish the drink around in the mouth
• Rinse mouthguards with water only
• Consider using dental-friendly sports drinks instead

One of the fads in the Western World today is pierced lips, cheeks, or tongues. What a lot of people are unaware of is just how dangerous these piercings have shown to be. There are a number of serious risks involved with oral piercings, and these include:

• Cracked and chipped teeth
• Blood poisoning
• Blood clots
• Brain abscesses
• Heart infections
• Receding gums
• Scar tissue
• Nerve disorders including trigeminal neuralgia

Common symptoms after a tongue piercing includes:

• Pain
• Infection
• Swelling
• Increased flow of saliva
• Gum tissue damage
• Difficult-to-control bleeding
• Nerve damage

The ADA recommends against mouth jewelry.

Tobacco is a dangerous herb that has very little medicinal value. It can easily jeopardize a child's health and result in permanent damage.

Chewing tobacco (also called spit, chew, or snuff)  is not a safe alternative to smoking cigarettes. In fact, it's been found to be more addictive than cigarettes thus making it more difficult to quit. One can of snuff per day has about as much nicotine as 60 cigarettes, or three packs of cigarettes. Periodontal disease along with pre-cancerous lesions known as leucoplakias can take place in as little as three or four months from smokeless tobacco usage.

If your teenager is chewing tobacco, you need to watch for signs of oral cancer including:

• Sores that don't ever heal
• Leathery patches on the lips and under the tongue (these are usually white or red in color)
• Numbness, tenderness, or pain in the mouth or lips
• Trouble chewing, swallowing, moving the jaw, moving the tongue, or speaking
• A change in the way the teeth fit together

Early signs of oral cancer tend not to be painful, and this poses an issue since most people don't realize there's a problem. Oral cancer has to be caught early otherwise it can lead to major surgery, and, of course, one can die from it. Talk to your children about the dangers of chewing tobacco.