Pediatric Dental Care FAQs
Has it been years since you’ve taken your child to a pediatric dentist? Have you just moved to Austin and need a pediatric dentist for your kids? If you’ve answered yes, you’re in the right place! At Austin Pearls Pediatric Dentistry, we’ve compiled answers to common questions about children’s dental care to help you navigate pediatric dental care confidently. Explore our FAQs below and contact us to learn more!
What is pediatric dentistry?
Pediatric dentistry is a branch of dentistry that is dedicated to the examination and management of dental health in children. In this branch, dentists have special experience and qualifications to care for a child’s teeth, gums, and mouth throughout childhood. Pediatric dentists know how to make children feel more comfortable and use specially designed equipment in offices arranged with children in mind.
When should children start visiting the dentist?
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children be seen no later than their first birthday or when their first tooth comes in. Even if no teeth have emerged yet around this time, we recommend that you make an appointment for your child to see a dentist near you!
When should my child start using toothpaste?
Once your child’s first tooth erupts, or a few, we recommend using a grain size of toothpaste to clean their teeth. This size will change as they grow. We encourage you to help brush your child’s teeth with toothpaste until their manual dexterity has developed and they can brush their teeth correctly!
Until what age should children go to a pediatric dentist?
Despite having an extensive background and education in children’s dentistry, there comes a time when children transition to a general or family dentist. This typically happens around their 18th birthday. If you are thinking of transitioning your child to a certain dentist, it is important to consider their treatment options and what ages of patients an office will accept.
At what age should children get dental X-rays?
Dental X-rays provide our pediatric dentist with information that can’t be seen from a visual exam alone. In most cases, we recommend children get dental X-rays around the age of 5 or 6 when their primary teeth start to fall out and permanent teeth begin to emerge.
Do pediatric dentists use laughing gas?
Laughing gas, also known as nitrous oxide, is one technique pediatric dentists may use to keep children calm during treatment. Laughing gas is a safe and effective option for making the dental experience more comfortable for children.