Children's Dental Care in Virginia Beach, VA

What is a Children’s Dentist?

A children’s dentist is a pediatric dentist who specializes in dentistry for kids. Pediatric dentists have several extra years of training after dental school, learning how to put children at ease and to deal with specific childhood dental conditions. General dentists also have young children as patients. General dentists, especially those who are parents, know how put children at ease as well.

When Should I Schedule My Child’s First Appointment with a Pediatric Dentist?

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that your baby see a dentist six months after their first tooth emerges or by their first birthday, whichever comes first. Call us to schedule your baby’s first appointment.

What Usually Happens During a Baby’s First Visit to a Dentist?

Dentistry for children is as much about the parent as it is the child. Typically, you will sit in the dental chair and hold the baby on your lap. The exam is usually limited to a visual check and the rest of the appointment is for the parent to ask questions about how to protect their child’s teeth from decay.

Children’s Dental Services

At our kid’s dental care office, we offer the following services:

Teeth Cleaning for Children

Our kid’s dentist offers a gentle in-office teeth cleaning for children twice a year, as soon as they are ready for the procedure, which helps prevent cavities.

Fluoride

Fluoride treatments are a safe way to strengthen tooth enamel and help prevent cavities.

Dental Sealants

Molars are notoriously difficult to brush because of the pits on the teeth. Dental sealants for children seal out food particles that become trapped and cause cavities. The sealants last up to 10 years if you bring your child in for checkups every six months, so your dentist can check for small cracks in the sealant.

Fillings

Children, especially those who have a sugary diet, are prone to cavities at an early age. Our pediatric dentist can fill cavities with metal fillings or white fillings for a more pleasing appearance.

Pediatric Crowns

Pediatric dentists typically use crowns to save a weakened tooth that had a large cavity or a root canal procedure. Dentists don’t pull the baby tooth, even though it will fall out in time, because a baby tooth holds the spot for the permanent tooth.

Mouthguards

Mouthguards protect children’s teeth when they participate in athletics, lessening their chances of getting a chipped or cracked tooth. If you’ve been looking for a children’s dentist near me because your child grinds his or her teeth, we can fit your child with a mouthguard that will protect their tooth enamel from damage.

When Will My Baby’s First Tooth Appear?

The average age is six months. However, some babies don’t reach this exciting milestone until they are close to their first birthday. Your baby’s teeth are already formed under their gums at birth, but they make their debut at various times. If your baby has not started teething by their first birthday, you should see a children’s dentist in Virginia Beach to be certain that there are no issues.

At What Age Do Baby Teeth Fall Out?

Your child could start expecting a visit from the tooth fairy as early as age four. Although, most children start losing their baby teeth between the ages of six and seven. The two front teeth in the lower jaw are the first to go.

Why Do Children Get Toothaches?

Dental decay (a cavity) is the most common reason for a child to have a toothache. Infection, a broken tooth or just wiggling a loose tooth back and forth too much can also result in pain. If your child is complaining of tooth pain, call our office to schedule an appointment with a children’s dentist.