Pediatric Dentistry

Our office recommends bringing your child in for their first visit between age 2 and 3. Early dental visits teach children about proper oral hygiene from a young age and foster good dental habits. Our goal is to help get your child off to the right start and prevent future problems

through education and regular exams and cleanings. Kids who learn early that dental visits are neither painful nor unpleasant generally grow into adults who feel comfortable with regular dental upkeep. Take your child to the dentist sooner in the event of an injury, tooth pain or any

other visible concern. Although their roots are smaller, baby teeth still have nerves and can be quite painful or sensitive if damaged.

Baby teeth can also get cavities, and like cavities in adult teeth, they can be painful. Cavities in baby teeth are frequently associated with corresponding decay in permanent teeth, so it is still important to keep a child’s mouth free of decay and to fill any cavities even if those teeth will eventually disappear.

Our dentists also deal with issues unique to children’s teeth. Baby bottle tooth decay is fairly common and should be addressed early. Thumb-sucking and pacifiers can affect a child’s bite.

Our doctors will monitor growing teeth and ensure that permanent teeth are growing in well. If necessary, the dentist can also recommend an orthodontist who can correct crowded or gapped teeth soon after the permanent teeth appear. Children have smaller jaws and fewer teeth than they will have as adults. When they are young, kids have a maximum of 20 teeth. Tooth growth begins at the front with incisors, the flat teeth

that comprise the most visible part of the smile, and continues toward the round molars toward the back of the jaw. The first permanent molars erupt behind the baby molars without displacing them at around 6 years old. Secondary teeth or adult teeth are mostly done erupting into the mouth by age 12. Wisdom (Third molars) teeth usually erupt into the mouth around age 18.

Although most babies are born without teeth, some have one or more teeth already peeking from their gums at birth. Children get their teeth at widely varying times, but the following list is an approximate indication of when a child’s baby teeth generally appear.

Central front teeth at 6 to 12 months

Lateral front teeth at 9 to 13 months

Canine teeth at 16 months to 2 years

First and second molars at 1 to 3 years

We look forward to seeing your child!