Dental Care for Children

In many cases, a child’s first visit to the dentist can be pretty uneventful in terms of us actually checking over their teeth (often, they don’t open their mouths until appointment number 2 or 3!).

The purpose of your child’s first couple of visits is to get them used to what it’s like being in a clinical environment, with a view to building their confidence, so they can have a check-up at a later date. Our dentists love getting to know kids and working with them to support a lifetime of healthy tooth and gum health.

You should bring your child to see us when their first tooth begins to appear or by their first birthday.

During your child’s first appointment, their dentist will:

• Ask you about any risk factors that your child has with their general health.
• Whether they are taking any medications or have any medical conditions.
• Whether they have any habits, such as thumb sucking, that could limit bite problems in the future.
• Examine the development of their teeth to make sure they are structurally sound.
• Examine their teeth and gums for signs of decay, erosion and irritation.

This is a great question, as many parents do not realise that tooth decay is responsible for hospitalising over 25,000 children a year in the UK.

The evolution of decay is driven by a combination of inadequate brushing and a high-sugar diet, and since the food industry isn’t fit for purpose for what children need to maintain healthy teeth, it can be incredibly hard for patients to know which foods are the culprits.

Here at Loddon Vale, we can help parents to identify tooth-friendly foods and brands and equip them with a strategy that will give their kids the willpower and desire to keep their teeth in great health.