Despite being a dedicated pediatric practice that only treats children, we get questions from parents all the time about whether or not we see a certain age group. Children change so much so fast, and that’s true for their dental needs as well! Fortunately, Dr. Rojas and Dr. Bryant are ready to welcome every child into our practice with open arms, and they are prepared to offer tailored care for each stage of development.
Yes, your child should visit the dentist even before they have all of their teeth! The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that a child should have their first dental exam as soon as their first tooth appears or around their first birthday. This allows our team to make sure your child’s smile is getting a good start, plus we can answer any questions you might have about your little one’s oral care.
With toddlers, our main goal is to help them feel comfortable in our office so that appointments go smoothly. In addition to providing gentle checkups and cleanings, we can also start to educate them about the basics of oral hygiene. Likely, we’ll be repeating many of the same things you’re teaching them at home, but hearing them from an adult other than a parent or a teacher is often essential to making it all click.
Dental care at this stage is especially crucial, as the baby teeth are starting to fall out to make way for the adult teeth. We can quickly repair any cavities or damage that pops up so your child’s baby teeth don’t fall out prematurely, plus we can potentially spot orthodontic issues early so they can be taken care of right away to dramatically reduce your child’s overall treatment time.
For teens, the primary goal is to help them take great care of their adult teeth, as they are meant to last a lifetime! Hygiene is as important as ever, and we’re also able to provide fillings to fix any cavities or trauma so that the teeth stay strong and their smile remains natural-looking. Thanks to our dedicated teen treatment area, we find that older children still like coming to see us despite being a pediatric practice. We can recommend when it is time to visit the orthodontist or when it is time to remove those pesky wisdom teeth.