Click on a topic of interest for more information.   

WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO PRINT FREELY AND CREATE YOUR PERSONAL PEDIATRIC DENTAL RESOURCE FILE . . . COMPLEMENTS OF DR. ADAMS Dr. Liu and Dr. Ponce:

Tobacco – Bad News in Any Form

Tongue Piercing - Is it Really Cool?
What is the Best Time for Orthodontic Treatment?
Mouth Guards
 

For more information on oral health care needs, please visit the website for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

 Your Child’s First Dental Visit     

IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR!  We believe YOU KNOW your child better than we ever will . . .   MOM, DAD, brothers and sisters ARE WELCOME to join in!    It's up to you.  Or . . if you feel it's in your child's best interest, you may sit  patiently in our reception area.   Your personal assistant will come get you for Doctors recommendations and consultation. 

We recommend beginning preventive care by your child's 1^st birthday.  Our staff is highly qualified to create an enjoyable and positive visit.  Dr. Adams, Dr. Liu and their associate, Dr. Ponce recommend having a family meeting and telling your child about the visit.  To make it fun, and give you some support, you will receive a wonderful "DENTASAURUS BOOKLET."   Again, we urge you to make reading DENTASAURUS a FAMILY EVENT.  Keep it fun and light!  The less to-do concerning the visit the better!

We are sure you agree it is best to avoid words that might cause unnecessary fear and concern, such as needle, pull, drill or hurt. Our Doctors and our team have studied communication skills so they insure a fun, pleasant yet effective initial "preventive care" experience.   (Keep in mind children hear everything and accept it as truth.  Avoid sharing your childhood, or perhaps even adult "dental war stories."   Let your child have their own experience!  We are confident you will be impressed!)

OUR PREVENTIVE CARE VISIT CONSISTS OF:  

• Thorough communication to discover your child's emotional needs.

• Comprehensive clinical discovery and examination.

• Preventive prophylaxis (hygiene/cleaning).

• Fluoride treatment.

• Comprehensive oral hygiene recommendations by the Doctor.  
  (We look for every child's unique need).

• Oral hygiene instructions by a personally trained pediatric dental assistant. 

• Orthodontic/developmental evaluation.   (A referral to an orthodontist if needed.)

• POSITIVE ENCOURAGEMENT to support your child's LIFETIME HABIT of caring for their mouth.   (Every one of our staff find this personally rewarding).

 Why Are The Primary (Baby) Teeth So Important?

Radiographs (X-rays) are a vital and necessary part of your child’s preventive dental exam. Without them, certain conditions may go undiagnosed. 

X-rays allow us to diagnose and treat health conditions that cannot be detected with a visual examination.  X-ray’s detect much more than cavities. For example, X-rays are necessary to survey erupting teeth, diagnose bone disease, or plan ahead for possible orthodontic treatment. If dental problems are found and treated early, treatment is comfortable for your child and hopefully, less costly to you.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends examinations with x-rays every six months for children.  Dr. Adams Dr. Liu and Dr. Ponce will make a recommendation based on your child’s personal dental conditions and the child’s ability to keep their mouth clean (minimal sticky plaque and food). If your child has a low decay rate it is likely we will recommend CHECK UP X-RAYS (cavity detecting) only once a year. - As your child develops, we make personal recommendations to take additional comprehensive x-rays every two to four years. Comprehensive x-rays allow us to evaluate the entire upper and lower jaw structure, as well as the root tips. FYI - It is recommended that BIG KIDS (Mom and Dad) have comprehensive x-rays every three to five years and check up x-rays yearly! It is very important for kids to see Mom and Dad taking preventive care of their teeth! (If you need a referral to a general dentist you can be confident will be conservative yet thorough and personalized, please call. We will be more than happy to help you.)

Baby Bottle tooth decay is a serious form of decay among young children. The condition is caused by frequent and long exposure of your baby's teeth to liquids containing sugar. Milk (including natural breast milk), formula, fruit juice and many other drinks are high in sugar. We encourage you to read labels carefully.

Dr. Adams Dr. Liu and Dr. Ponce recommend putting your baby to bed for a nap or at night with a bottle of water in place of traditional milk or juice. Sweet liquid pools around the child’s teeth giving plaque bacteria an opportunity to produce acids that attack tooth enamel. If you must give the baby a bottle as a comforter at bedtime, AGAIN, our Doctors recommend you give our baby the healthy advantage of drinking a bottle with just plain water. (Of course, if your child has extraordinary health issues that require other medications or liquids be given while sleeping, please follow your pediatrician’s recommendations).

BABY TEETH:  Children’s teeth begin forming before birth. Your child may begin erupting teeth as early as four months old.  The first baby teeth to erupt are usually the lower front teeth (central incisors).  Next you will probably see the upper front teeth.  Your child will most likely have all twenty primary teeth by age three.   Please keep in mind the pace and order of tooth eruption varies.  

Fluoride STRENGTHENS TEETH.  However, too little or too much fluoride can be detrimental to the teeth. - Excessive fluoride taken by preschool-aged children can lead to dental fluorosis, which can lead to a chalky white or brown discoloration of permanent teeth. Being aware of a child’s potential sources of fluoride can help parents prevent the possibility of dental fluorosis.

Some of these sources are:

• Too much fluoridated toothpaste at an early age.

• The inappropriate use of fluoride supplements.

• Hidden sources of fluoride in the child’s diet.

Two and three-year olds may not be able to expectorate (spit out) fluoride-containing toothpaste when brushing. As a result, these youngsters may ingest an excessive amount of fluoride during tooth brushing. Toothpaste ingestion during this critical period of permanent tooth development is the greatest risk factor in the development of fluorosis.

Excessive and inappropriate intake of fluoride supplements may also contribute to fluorosis. Fluoride drops and tablets, as well as fluoride fortified vitamins should not be given to infants younger than six months of age. After that time, fluoride supplements should only be given to children after all of the sources of ingested fluoride have been accounted for and upon the recommendation of your pediatrician or pediatric dentist.

Certain foods contain high levels of fluoride, especially: powdered concentrate infant formula, soy-based infant formula, infant dry cereals, creamed spinach, and infant chicken products. Please read the label or contact the manufacturer. Some beverages also contain high levels of fluoride, especially: decaffeinated teas, white grape juices, and juice drinks manufactured in fluoridated cities. Blending the syrup, carbonation and the city water supply often makes soft drinks at fast food restaurants – so if fluoride is in the water – this is another source.

Please take the following steps to decrease the risk of fluorosis in your child's teeth:

• Avoid giving fluoride-containing supplements to infants until they are 6 months old.

• Place only a pea-sized drop of children’s toothpaste on the brush when brushing.

• Be aware of all sources of ingested fluoride before requesting fluoride supplements.  

• Use baby tooth cleanser on the toothbrush in the very young child.

• Obtain fluoride level test results for your drinking water before giving fluoride supplements to your child (check with local water utilities).

Proper brushing is one of the most important factors for good dental health. Avoid toothpastes, and/or tooth polishes that are abrasive as they may damage young smiles by wearing away fragile enamel. It's easy . . . make sure you buy toothpaste that is recommended by the American Dental Association. These toothpastes have undergone testing to insure they are safe.  They are also Dr. Adams Dr. Liu and Dr. Ponce's recommended tooth paste!

Parents are often concerned about children grinding their teeth when they sleep. Often, the first indication is the noise created by grinding. Or, the parent may notice wear which makes teeth look shorter that usual. - One theory may have a psychological component. Stress due to a new environment, divorce, changes at school; etc. can influence a child to grind their teeth. 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, etc. to equalize pressure) children may grind by moving their jaw to relieve 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 (night guard) may be indicated. The negatives to a mouth guard are the possibility of choking if the appliance becomes dislodged during sleep and it may interfere with growth of the jaws. The positive is obvious by preventing wear to the primary dentition.

Sucking is a natural reflex.  Infants and young children use thumbs, fingers, pacifiers and other objects too may make them feel secure and happy or provide a sense of security if they are stressed.  Keep in mind that your child finds it relaxing. 

Thumb sucking that persists beyond the eruption of the permanent teeth can cause problems with the proper growth of the mouth and tooth alignment. If your child intensely sucks on fingers or thumbs will determine if a dental problem is at risk. Children who rest their thumbs passively in their mouths are less likely to have difficulty than those who vigorously suck their thumbs.

Pacifiers can affect the teeth essentially the same way as sucking fingers and thumbs. However, use of the pacifier can be controlled and modified more easily than the thumb or finger habit. If you have concerns about thumb sucking or use of a pacifier, please call our office.

DURING PIERCING . . .Your mouth contains millions of bacteria, and infection is a common complication of oral piercing. Your tongue could swell large enough to close off your airway!  - Common symptoms after piercing include pain, swelling, infection, an increased flow of saliva and injuries to gum tissue. Difficult-to-control bleeding or nerve damage can result if a blood vessel or nerve bundle is in the path of the needle.

Tobacco in any form can jeopardize your parents or children's health and cause incurable damage. Teach your child about the dangers of tobacco.  (As the modern 2002 suggests . . . if you think NOT SMOKING IS HARD try chemo therapy to fight CANCER!)

Smokeless tobacco, also called spit, chew or snuff, is often used by teens who believe that it is a safe alternative to smoking cigarettes. This is an unfortunate misconception. Studies show that spit tobacco may be more addictive than smoking cigarettes and may be more difficult to quit. Teens who use it may be interested to know that one can of snuff per day delivers as much nicotine as 60 cigarettes. In as little as three to four months, smokeless tobacco use can cause periodontal disease and produce pre-cancerous lesions called leukoplakias.

If your child is a tobacco user,  watch for the following which may be early signs of oral cancer:

• A sore that won’t heal

• White or red leathery patches on your lips, and on or under your tongue

• Pain, tenderness or numbness anywhere in the mouth or lips

• Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving your jaw or tongue; or a change in the way your teeth fit together

Because the early signs of oral cancer are usually pain free, it's easy to miss or ignore them. If not caught in the early stages, oral cancer requires extensive, sometimes disfiguring, surgery. Even worse . . . it can kill.

Developing malocclusions, or bad bites, can be recognized as early as 2-3 years of age. Often, early steps can be taken to reduce the need for major orthodontic treatment at a later age.

Stage I – Early Treatment: This period of treatment encompasses ages 2 to 6 years. At this young age, we are concerned with underdeveloped dental arches, the premature loss of primary teeth, and harmful habits such as finger or thumb sucking. Treatment initiated in this stage of development is often very successful and many times, though not always, can eliminate the need for future orthodontic/orthopedic treatment.

Stage II – Mixed Dentition: This period covers the ages of 6 to 12 years, with the eruption of the permanent incisor (front) teen and 6 year molars. Treatment concerns deal with jaw malrelationships and dental realignment problems. This is an excellent stage to start treatment, when indicated, as your child’s hard and soft tissues are usually very responsive to orthodontic or orthopedic forces.

When a child begins recreational activities and organized sports, injuries can occur. A properly fitted mouth guard, or mouth a protector, is an important piece of athletic gear that can help protect your child’s smile.  Our Doctors recommend using a mouth guard during strenuous activities that may result in  contact.