Pediatric Dentistry
As a family dentistry practice, we are able to serve a wide age range of patients, including kids! Luckily, our staff at Redwood Family Dentistry is able to treat all members of your family. We strongly believe that pediatric dental care is essential for a child’s health and lifelong wellness.
What is a pediatric dentist?
Treating pediatric patients requires a great deal of patience and understanding, as young patients can get nervous in new spaces and pose some additional challenges that adult patients do not. It is our job as your child’s dental team to help them feel safe and comfortable in our office!
As a family dental practice, we have the capacity to meet the needs of every member of your family from childhood into adulthood. We believe in establishing long term relationships with our patients as early as possible in order to provide the best dental care in Benicia.
Your Child’s First Pediatric Dentist Appointment
It is important to bring your child to a dentist very early in their life so that they can get comfortable at the dentist as soon as possible, and so that their dentist can start working on their preventative dental care before major issues arise. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that children see a dentist by their first birthday, or soon after their first tooth erupts. After that, they should be visiting the dentist at least once every six months.
During your child’s first dental appointment, the staff will thoroughly document their medical history and their dental history (if applicable). The staff will also conduct an oral examination, and show you and your child an age-appropriate brushing technique and oral hygiene routine. This will also be the dentist’s first opportunity to evaluate your child’s alignment and risks.
Common Procedures in Pediatric Dentistry
While every child’s needs are different, there are several common procedures that we regularly perform in our dental practice. We offer a wide variety of services and procedures, but here are some of the most common ones.
Cleanings - At every pediatric dentist appointment, we will perform a routine cleaning of your child’s teeth. This is a measure of preventative dentistry, a practice which aims to prevent dental issues like cavities and other damage.
Fillings - When a patient has a small cavity in their tooth, we often replace the cavity with a white filling. If your child is nervous about the procedure, we will help them understand what is going on by explaining the procedure in simple, less scary terms. It is important to treat cavities in primary teeth (also known as baby teeth) in order to prevent pain and to ensure that your child’s permanent teeth are not damaged before they even erupt.
Pulpotomy - A pulpotomy, also known as a “baby root canal,” is essentially a root canal performed on a primary tooth. Many parents are surprised to find out that this is a necessary procedure. Even though your child will lose their baby teeth, it is important to keep them healthy and treat cavities and other damages in order to prevent pain and ensure their long term oral health.
