WHEN SHOULD I TAKE MY CHILD TO THE DENTIST?

The ideal time to bring your child to their first dental visit is around their second birthday. By the age of 2,  your child will have all of their “baby” teeth. This is the perfect time for Dr. DalBon to carefully examine the development of your child’s mouth. He can provide recommendations to safeguard against problems such as baby bottle tooth decay, teething irritations, and prolonged thumb-sucking.

 WHAT CAN MY CHILD EXPECT ON

THEIR FIRST VISIT?
Once your child’s medical history is reviewed, Dr. DalBon will thoroughly examine your child’s teeth and gums. Our hygienist will professionally clean and polish your child's teeth and, based on your child's age,  administer a topical fluoride treatment to help strengthen their teeth and prevent decay.

WHAT ABOUT X-RAYS?

Dr. DalBon is very conservative when it comes to  x-rays.  Typically, two films are taken, one on each side of your child's mouth, and by using digital x-rays to check for cavities we are able to reduce the amount of radiation your child is exposed to by up to 90%.

DOES MY CHILD NEED FLUORIDE SUPPLEMENTS? 
All children need supplemental fluoride after they are six months old. Most children get this fluoride from the water they drink, provided they are in an area where the city water supply has fluoride in it (greater than 0.6 ppm). Sources of water that typically don't have enough fluoride include well water and filtered or bottled water. If you child does not receive fluoride in their water, Dr. DalBon or your pediatrician can prescribe fluoride supplements. Too much fluoride can cause fluorosis,a permanent, white to brown discoloration of the enamel of your child's teeth.  Fluorosis can occur if your child is drinking fluoridated water and taking fluoride supplements.

WHAT ARE SEALANTS?

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO FIX BABY TEETH THAT HAVE DECAY?

It is important to maintain your child's baby teeth because these teeth hold space for the future eruption of their permanent teeth. If a baby tooth decays or is removed too early, the space necessary for the permanent tooth is lost and can only be regained through orthodontic treatment. Infected baby teeth can cause permanent teeth to develop improperly.