February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, and for the last several days, we’ve been populating our site with content about children’s dental care.
At our family dental office near Joliet, IL, we put a special focus on all around dental care for your kids. We’re your trusted advocate when it comes to providing gentle and thorough dental cleanings, restorative options, at-home hygiene tips, and oral care information. That’s true for patients of all ages, but we especially enjoy working with children. You might have caught that from our giraffe logo or the giraffe stuffed animals in our office!
Giving a child a great dental experience can lead to a great dentist-patient relationship for the rest of your child’s life. That means your child can have a brighter, healthier smile. As a children’s dentist, our staff excels at working with your children, as most of us have kids of our own. A good day for us is seeing a young patient smiling when they walk in and leave the office.
Today, we want you to provide some facts about your children’s oral health and preventive care. Keep reading to make sure you are factoring in EVERYTHING when it comes to your child’s dental care.
$1 In Prevention Saves You $8 to $50 in Other Dental Services
The American Dental Hygienists Association found that patients who focus on prevention dental care for kids — regular cleanings and exams — will spend less on their mouth over time. Restorations like crowns and bridges are expensive. A cleaning, by comparison, is inexpensive.
Children Should See A Dentist When The First Tooth Appears.
Children begin teething at about 6 months. We can see children as young as 6 months old, but we recommend that parents bring their children to a dentist no later than the child’s first birthday. Seeing your children at this age allows us to make sure the teeth are erupting properly.
50 Percent Of All 5-Year Olds In America Have Had Tooth Decay
Tooth decay in children has been on the rise since the 1990s. Now it’s the leading chronic disease in children across the world. As soon as the teeth erupt, they are at risk of decay. Certain foods, those high in sugar or carbohydrates, increase the risk of tooth decay. But things like long-term exposure to bottles with milk or juice can cause tooth decay. Additionally, habits like pacifier use or thumb sucking can cause alignment issues.
1 in 5 U.S. Children Do Not Have Access To Regular Dental Care
Of this population, some of these kids may have seen a dentist, but they do not have a primary dental priority. This means there are millions of children around the country who are not getting the dental care they need. Perhaps some of those children are in this community.
A Toothache Can Turn Deadly
These stories are few and far between, but it is possible for an abscessed tooth to turn deadly. It happened to a 12-year boy in Texas in 2007. He had an abscessed tooth. Removing the tooth would have costed less than $100. But instead, the infection entered the boy’s brain, killing him. As we mentioned, these stories are EXTREMELY rare, but it can happen.
How We Give Your Child Great Dental Care
To give your child the great smile they deserve, we practice a philosophy called “Tell, Show, Do.” We explain everything to the child before we begin the treatment. And best of all, we try to have fun. Don’t be surprised if you see us laughing, singing, or dancing around to keep your children upbeat and relaxed.
We use a “cherry jelly” (topical gel) and “sleepy juice” (local anesthesia). If we need to restore the tooth, we introduce the children to “Mr. Whistle.” These simple tactics help your child relax in the chair because it erases the fear of the unknown. When the kids are comfortable, they don’t mind coming to the dentist.
We understand what a huge leap of faith it is for parents to entrust dental care for their kids. We take that responsibility seriously. If you want to hear more about our elite children’s dental services, give us a call today at 815-725-5991 or fill out an online appointment form.
