Pediatric Dentist Lewisville | Lewisville Kids Dentistry | Pediatric Dentist Near Me

Tag: Dr. Jessica Bell

Why Baby Teeth Are Just as Important as Permanent Teeth | 75067 Pediatric Dentist

Posted on October 15, 2022

Your child’s primary teeth (commonly called “baby teeth”) are pretty interesting, and we’re not just saying that because we’re pediatric dentists. In most mouths, there are 20 primary teeth in total. They are already present in your child’s jaw at the time of birth and they will usually begin to appear between the ages of 6-12 months. 

Usually referred to as teething, this process can be an important and exciting stage in you and your child’s life. We probably all have at least one story of a lost baby tooth. However, despite their cultural significance, many fail to see the health-related importance of these teeth. One question our pediatric dentist in 75067 gets quite frequently is, “If my child’s baby teeth are just going to fall out anyway, is it even worth taking care of them?”

While it may seem like caring for your child’s baby teeth isn’t all that important, nothing could be further from the truth. Called “Nature’s Braces” by some dentists, baby teeth are incredibly important to a child’s overall health and development. 

When baby teeth are lost too early, due to decay or some other factor, the gaps left behind can cause major issues in the development of your child’s permanent teeth. As permanent teeth start to come in, they can drift into the empty space left behind by a missing primary tooth, making it difficult for other teeth to come in straight. The end result is often a crooked and misaligned smile that requires expensive orthodontic care in the future. 

Additionally, baby teeth are necessary to help your child in everything from chewing and speaking to smiling with confidence.

Primary teeth are important to more than just the tooth fairy and are critical to your child’s development. To make sure they stay healthy and do their job, help your child brush their teeth at least twice a day and participate in all the other aspects of a great oral hygiene routine. 

As a part of that routine, make sure that you continue to schedule regular dental appointments for your child at our pediatric dental office. We are specialists in providing excellent, kid-focused dental care in a warm and welcoming environment. Contact our team to set up your next appointment to our Lewisville, TX pediatric dental office today.

Lewisville Kids Dentistry
Phone: (972) 436-9121
501 S Stemmons Fwy
Lewisville, TX 75067

Choosing the Right Toothpaste For Your Child | 75067 Dentist

Posted on October 1, 2022

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tooth decay is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood in the United States. For reference, about 20% of kids aged 5-11 years have at least one untreated decayed tooth. Additionally, a study conducted by the University of Southern California found that roughly ⅓ of elementary school absences were caused by dental problems. 

The best way to help your child avoid becoming a part of these statistics is to make sure they have a great oral hygiene routine that saves their teeth from decay. Part of that routine involves choosing the right toothpaste for the job.

Enjoyable Flavors

Perhaps the one of the easier decisions to make when it comes to your child’s toothpaste is flavor and fun colors. Brushing twice a day, every day is not going to be as easy for your child to accomplish if they do not like the flavor of their toothpaste. Let them decide which flavors they like and choose their own toothpaste when possible. Sometimes, mint and similar flavors will be too “spicy” or intense for your child’s mouth. 

Consider berry or bubblegum flavored alternatives that kids can enjoy. Sometimes these flavors come in entertaining colors and packages that can also help get your child excited about their dental health. 

Avoid Abrasives

Some toothpastes include mild abrasives that can help remove surface stains and debris from teeth. Unfortunately, these abrasives can also damage your child’s sensitive tooth enamel. 

To avoid this problem, stay away from teeth whitening toothpastes. You should also consult with our pediatric dental office about which abrasives to avoid and which toothpastes we recommend as safe. 

Look for the ADA Seal of Approval

The American Dental Association is one of the leading professional dental associations in the country. Their strict testing procedures on many brands and types of toothpastes ensure that the product is high quality, safe for use and is effective. This important Seal of Approval is easily seen on many boxes and can help you narrow down your options quickly. 

If you help your child keep up with their daily routine, you are helping protect them from potential tooth decay in the future. However, if your child is complaining of sensitive or painful teeth, it may be time to visit our pediatric dental office in Lewisville, TX for an evaluation. Our Lewisville pediatric dental team will examine your child’s mouth for signs of tooth decay or other oral health issues and create a treatment plan that can restore their smile to it’s full health.

Lewisville Kids Dentistry
Phone: (972) 436-9121
501 S Stemmons Fwy
Lewisville, TX 75067

Ease Your Child’s Dental Anxiety | Dr. Lauren Nelson

Posted on August 15, 2022

Your dentist can provide the best services in town and have all the latest technology, but none of it will mean anything if your child is filled with fear every time they hear the word dentist. It’s important to us that all our patients, no matter their age, feel comfortable and confident while visiting us. However, when it comes to you children, we can’t do it alone. Your children are very perceptive of how you are feeling and will look to you for cues on how to feel about us. Here are some of our recommendations for you to help us make your child feel safe while at the dentist. 

Easy Peesy 

The best advice we can offer parents is to not make a big deal out of your child’s dental appointments. If your child sees or hears any anxiety in you they will feel the same way about things. Try treating the dentist as something as normal as going to the grocery store. Often, children are much more receptive and resilient than we sometimes realize. One way to ensure that the dentist becomes normalized is to start your child off early. Schedule an appointment for your child as soon as they get their first tooth. If the child has consistently good experiences early on, the future anxiety simply won’t be there. 

Meet and Greet

Consider scheduling a short 5 minute appointment for your dentist and your child to establish a relationship. If your child can see the dentist as a friend first, they will be more likely to trust them to work on their mouth. Help foster this trust by discussing the dentist one on one with your child as a fun yet calm environment. The worst thing you can do is to use the dentist as a punishment. For instance, threatening your children with “If you don’t brush your teeth you’ll have to go to the dentist” make them associate the dentist with fear, punishment and pain. 

Better Seen Than Heard

When you accompany your child to the dentist, your involvement may change depending upon the level of anxiety you both are feeling. Our experienced team as found that a great option is to assure your child that you’ll be close by the entire time. Depending on the situation, you may consider not being in the room as your child’s teeth are being cleaned. If you have any fear or anxiety about the situation, your child will pick up on it and it would be better for you not to be there. Additionally, your presence can distract both the doctor and your child. For some children however, your presence may be extremely helpful. Ultimately, you know your child’s needs best.

It is well known by all dentists that the outcome of treatments in directly dependent upon the compliance of the patient. Help make sure your child’s trips to the dentist are as beneficial and painless as possible. Make sure to call our Pediatric Dentist in Lewisville office if you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment. We look forward to hearing from you.    

Lewisville Kids Dentistry
Phone: (972) 436-9121
Url: https://lewisvillekidsdentistry.com/
501 S Stemmons Fwy
Lewisville, TX 75067

Lewisville Pediatric Dentist | Teeth Stages

Posted on February 24, 2020

A child’s first tooth growing in can be a bittersweet moment for parents. It can be frustrating when babies become irritable. It can also be exciting because this marks another stage in a child’s life. Understanding the stages of oral development can help you promote optimal oral health for your child.

 

Birth to 3 Years Old

The primary (baby) teeth that will appear in the first 3 years of your child’s life aid in development. Primary teeth are key for chewing, speaking, and appearance. They also hold space in the jaws for upcoming adult teeth. Even though they fall out, baby teeth are extremely important.

 

3 to 6 Years Old

By the time your child is 3 years old, they will most likely have all 20 primary teeth. Your child should be brushing their teeth twice a day and flossing daily.

 

6 to 12 Years Old

Between the ages of 6 to 12 years old, your child will gradually lose all of their primary teeth and their first permanent (adult) teeth will move into place. Permanent teeth affect the position and health of the other adult teeth that will grow in later.

 

12 to 17 Years Old

After 12 years old, your child will likely have most of their adult teeth. Oral health becomes critical because these are their teeth for life. Avoid excessive sugar which can lead to tooth decay, wear mouth guards while playing sports, and visit us if your child appears to have crooked teeth.

 

17 to 21 Years Old

The last teeth to appear are wisdom teeth. Often times, we recommend that these teeth be removed to prevent overcrowding which can lead to many oral health problems. This tends to occur between the ages of 17 to 30.

 

Teeth are constantly changing throughout childhood. How you take care of your child’s teeth now, can impact their oral health in the future.

 

Contact Lewisville Kids Dentistry to schedule your child’s first appointment today.

 

Lewisville Kids Dentistry
501 S Stemmons Fwy
Lewisville, TX 75067

(972) 436-9121
www.lewisvillekidsdentistry.com/

Pediatric dentist in Lewisville, TX | Pacifiers and Teeth Development

Posted on February 24, 2020

One of the best ways to calm fussy babies is by giving them a pacifier. However, as babies grow this can be a difficult habit to break. The use of pacifiers can cause improper mouth development which leads to abnormal tooth growth and additional complications later in life. Here’s what you need to know about the impact pacifiers have on your baby’s smile.

Negative Effects of Pacifiers

Physical development is crucial for children’s overall health in the first few years of their life. What you do now can affect them for their entire life. Pacifiers can influence the shape and alignment of your child’s teeth and jaw. It can move the front teeth forward and you may notice your child developing crooked teeth or bite problems. The front teeth may also not meet when their mouth is closed and there can be changes in the shape of the roof of their mouth.

 

Positive Effects of Pacifiers

While they may contribute to oral health complications, pacifiers do offer several benefits for parents and children. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) babies up to one year of age who are offered a pacifier at night have a reduced risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

 

What You Should Do

Since pacifiers can be beneficial for other health reasons, you should speak with us about how to wean your baby off of pacifiers. We also recommend that you visit our Lewisville pediatric dental office for an examination as soon as your child’s first tooth develops.

 

Breaking the habit of pacifier use can be difficult, but there are various ways you can wean your child off a pacifier. By following our tips and recommendations, your child can experience the calming effect of pacifiers without developing pacifier teeth.

 

Contact Lewisville Kids Dentistry and schedule your child’s next appointment with our Lewisville pediatric dentist today.

 

Lewisville Kids Dentistry
501 S Stemmons Fwy
Lewisville, TX 75067

(972) 436-9121
www.lewisvillekidsdentistry.com/

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