As a parent, you understand that caring for your child’s smile is as important as making sure they eat well and receive their needed immunizations on time. However, many parents are unsure about when and why they should seek the help of a dentist to help care for their child’s teeth. The American Dental Association recommends that you take your child for their first checkup just after their first birthday or by the time that first little tooth pushes through the gums. Early visits to a friendly, encouraging family dentist help your child become accustomed to receiving professional dental care, a habit that will carry over into adulthood. In addition, they allow Dr. Brad Greenfield, a Rochester Hills MI dentist who provides gentle, effective services like dental sealants and fluoride treatments, to keep a close eye on developing problems, like dental carries (tooth decay), misalignment, and proper jaw and tooth development.
Why is Children’s Dentistry Important?
Practicing consistent at-home care and making sure your child eats a healthy diet low in sugar are important for helping your little one enjoy healthy, beautiful teeth and gums. However, seeking the care of a family dentist who understands the unique oral health needs of children is essential for reducing the risk and minimizing the damage of common dental issues. Regular dental visits also:
- Help refine homecare techniques. Dr. Greenfield and our staff will work closely with your child to help him or her “brush up” on their brushing and flossing techniques. We can also recommend special products, like handheld flossers perfect for smaller hands, to help your child practice better dental care at home.
- Broaden our patient understanding of oral health. We believe that if our patients are well-informed, they will make better decisions about their health. Helping children understand the consequences and rewards of taking good care of their smiles is especially beneficial, since most children are enthusiastic learners anyway.
- Addressing oral health problems early. Dental carries, the technical term for tooth decay, is extremely prevalent among school-aged children. Dr. Greenfield offers special services, like protective dental sealants and enamel-strengthening fluoride treatments, to reduce your child’s risk of developing tooth decay and cavities.
A Caring, Holistic Approach to Children’s Dentistry
Dr. Brad Greenfield is the proud dad of three children, so he has a firsthand knowledge of the kind of nurturing environment children need. He and our team enjoy working with little ones and their parents to help create positive associations with the dentist’s office. We encourage you to start bringing your child to your regular checkup beginning when they are about a year old. As they become accustomed to our office, transitioning from observer to active participant in a dental checkup will be easier. Six-month checkups and cleanings will become routine starting at about age two. If we detect any oral health problems before their second birthday, we will schedule further appointments.
To schedule a happy visit or routine checkup for your child, contact our Lake Orion, MI dental practice at (248) 693-6213. We happily serve patients of all ages in Clarkston, Auburn Hills, Oxford, Rochester Hills, and neighboring communities.
