Children’s Dentistry FAQ
We are happy that you have chosen us for your child’s dental care. Here are some questions and answers most often asked by parents. Additionally, we will be happy to answer any individual questions you may have by email or by calling our office.
How may I best prepare my child if this is his/her first visit and what is going to be done?
You can play a large part in preparing your youngster for his/her first visit to our office. Try to act relaxed and at ease. Any anxiety on your part will probably be sensed by your child. Tell your child that we will “count” and “take pictures” of his/her teeth. Do not use any fear provoking words such as “hurt”, “pull”, “drill” and “needle”. Avoid statements like, “The doctor will not hurt you”. If someone says to you, “Don’t think of a banana”, what is the first thing you think of? A banana, of course! It’s the same with the word “hurt”.
We will thoroughly explain each of our procedures to your child, in terms that he/she can understand, before we do it. We welcome parents into our operative areas so that we may review your child’s history, diagnosis or problems, but request your cooperation in allowing our hygienist to develop a one-on-one relationship of trust and cooperation with your child.
At the first visit, the hygienist will clean your child’s teeth, administer a fluoride treatment and check for decay. She will emphasize oral hygiene techniques to be practiced by both you and your child. Afterward, the doctor will review your child’s history, and diagnosis for specific problems. A full examination will be done of the teeth and supporting structures. Occlusion (bite) will be evaluated. Radiographs (x-rays) will be taken- as necessary- to ensure a thorough and comprehensive examination. Subsequent appointments for restorations and sealants may be scheduled as needed. We will answer any questions you may have. When treatment has been completed, we will schedule a 6-month re-care visit for your child. You will receive a “reminder” postcard prior to your 6-month re-care visit.
What is Bayside Dental Kids & Kid Island Dentals’ philosophy of treatment?
Our emphasis is on “prevention” both in the office and at home. We recommend regular periodic exams and cleanings, as well as thorough home care. Home care includes limited sweets, brushing at least two times a day and after meals, and flossing at least once a day, preferably before bedtime. Sometimes supplemental fluoride pills, rinses or gels are indicated as part of the home preventive program. Because the primary teeth form the basis for adult dentition, we will do everything possible to preserve the integrity of your child’s dentition while fostering a healthy and relaxed attitude toward dental care.
We offer a full range of dental services for children, adolescents and the exceptional child, including restorative, preventive dental care and interceptive orthodontics. We are wheel chair accessible and when the need arises for sedation dentistry we have board certified anesthesiologists, (MD’s) on staff.
When will the condition of my child’s teeth and supporting structures be discussed with me? Who will explain what work is needed and how much it will cost?
At the conclusion of your child’s exam, the doctor will meet with you to explain what was found and what treatment is recommended. Before you leave the office, our patient coordinator will discuss fees and options for payment.
If my child has cavities, how does Bayside Dental Kids & Kid Island Dental fill their teeth?
For small cavities, we are able to restore the teeth without the need for a local anesthetic. For larger cavities, your child will receive a local anesthetic after first having numbed the area with a numbing agent applied with a q-tip. This may be the first time your child has received a local anesthetic. It will feel like a pinprick and should not be uncomfortable. In addition to blocking sensation from the teeth, the anesthetic “numbs” the lips, cheeks, and tongue in the area of treatment. This may be a puzzling or curious sensation for your child, but you must be careful that your child does not bite, suck or chew his lips or tongue or lacerations of the tissues could occur. While this is not serious, it is uncomfortable. Therefore, please watch your child closely for approximately one hour and avoid eating until the anesthetic has “worn off”.
What forms must I fill out, and what are the financial options?
During your initial phone call to schedule your child’s appointment, our new patient coordinator will inform you of the patient registration forms. You will be receiving in the mail a new patient welcome packet for your child, and may fullfill these out at your convenience. By doing this in advance, you will be able to fully enjoy our unique office with your child. If you have dental insurance, please complete the employee portion of your form and bring it with you as well. After your dental benefits have been determined, you will be required to pay only the unpaid portion of you fee at the time of service. Other financial options will be explained to you at your first appointment. Please view the Insurance & Financial Options section of our web site.
Toothpaste: when should we begin using it and how much should we use?
Fluoridated toothpaste should be introduced when a child is 2-3 years of age. Prior to that, parents should clean the child's teeth with water and a soft-bristled toothbrush. When toothpaste is used after age 2-3, parents should supervise brushing and make sure the child uses no more than a pea-sized amount on the brush. Children should spit out and not swallow excess toothpaste after brushing.
Sealants
Bayside Dental Kids & Kid Island Dental recommends sealants to protect tooth surfaces that have grooves and pits, especially the chewing surfaces of back teeth where most cavities in children occur. They are made of clear or shaded resin and applied to the teeth to help avoid cavities. Even if your child brushes and flosses carefully, it is difficult-sometimes impossible-to adequately clean the small grooves and pits on certain teeth. Food and bacteria accumulate in these grooves and pits, placing your child in danger of tooth decay. Sealants reduce the risk of cavities by creating a barrier against food and plaque. Sealant application is quick, comfortable and requires only one visit. Your child’s teeth are conditioned and dried, after which the sealant is applied and allowed to harden. Sealants should be applied to the teeth most at risk of decay - the six- and twelve-year molars - but any tooth with grooves and pits may benefit from sealant application. Research indicates that sealants can be effective for several years, offering protection during the most cavity-prone years. If you child practices good oral hygiene and avoids eating sticky things such as chewing gum and sticky candies, their effectiveness can be extended.
Tooth-Colored Composite Fillings
We are able to restore decayed teeth with bonded, wear-resistant plastic fillings, rather than with traditional silver amalgam (mercury) material. Tooth-colored composite fillings give the tooth a normal appearance. Resin is bonded to the natural tooth, strengthening the union of the tooth and the restoration, thus guarding against microscopic leakage at the edges. Invisible fillings can be easily repaired by the simple addition of resin.
Pulpotomy
When there is bacterial involvement of the pulp (nerve) chamber of your child’s decayed tooth, it is sometimes necessary to surgically remove the nerve in the pulp chamber and place a medicated filling. After the medication has been placed in the pulp chamber of the tooth, the opening is filled with a permanent filling or covered with a crown. The success of a pulpotomy depends on the severity of the infection and the body’s reaction to the infection and subsequent treatment. If the pulpotomy is not performed, or fails and the tooth abscesses, it usually must be extracted and a space maintainer placed to hold the space for its permanent successor. A tooth may abscess with or without pain, therefore it is recommended that regular six-month checkups be made in order to keep the teeth under constant observation.
First Time Parents Oral Care & Preventive Measures for Your Infant
Nursing pattern decay has been reported with prolonged and unrestricted nighttime breast-feeding. The stagnation of milk about the neck of anterior teeth and the fermentation of disaccharide lactose, a sugar found in milk, contribute to this caries process. Under usual feeding regimens neither bottle nor breast milk predispose to caries. The typical high risk child will use a nursing bottle far beyond the first birthday. If infants are allowed prolonged access to the bottle its use may become habitual. The result is the toddler that is never seen without a bottle. These children have a very high inappropriate caloric intake or the high fluid intake may cause the child to keep away from other foods, which leads to an overall poor nutritional outcome.
Weaning from the bottle or breast during the ‘terrible twos” can be extremely challenging. This struggle can be avoided by making the transition to the cup earlier in life, preferably shortly after the first birthday. At 4 to 6 months of age infants develop muscle control to close the mouth and may be introduced to nonliquid foods and the cup. Bottle feeding past 12 months of age leads to a drastically increased caries risk.
- Infants should not be put to sleep with a bottle containing a liquid other than water.
- Infants should be encouraged to drink from a cup prior to their first birthday.
- Infants should be weaned from the bottle at 12-14 months of age.
- Infants should start to supplement their diet with nonliquids at 4-6 months of age.
- Juices should only be offered from a cup.(see sippy cup tips below)
- Oral hygiene should be started with eruption of the first primary (baby) tooth.
- Within six months of eruption of the first tooth (no later than the first birthday) it is time for your baby’s first dental visit.
Sippy Cup Tips
To reduce the risk of cavities:
- The sippy cup is designed to be a training tool to help children transition from a bottle to a cup. It should not be used for a long period of time. The sippy cup is not a bottle and it is not a pacifier.
- Unless being used at mealtime, the sippy cup should be filled ONLY with WATER. Remember, frequent drinking of any liquid, even if diluted, from a bottle or no-spill training cup should be avoided.
- Sippy cups should not be used at naptime or bedtime unless they have only water in them. Always remember to clean your child’s teeth before placing him or her in bed.
First Dental Visit Books
Here are three books that will help prepare your child for a visit to the dentist.
"A trip to the Dentist" by Margot Linn
"Going to the Dentist" by Fred Rogers
"Milo’s Toothache" by Ida Luttrell (children ages 5-8)
Great Neck Office
(formerly in Bayside)
611 Northern Blvd.
Suite 100,
Great Neck, NY 11021
Ph: 516.708.4019
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Mid-Island Dental
400 South Oyster Bay Road, Suite 201
Hicksville, NY 11801
Ph: 516.960.5619
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Contact our pediatric dentists in Long Island, New York today to learn more about oral hygiene for your children.
