Child Dentistry
Parents want to be sure to purchase dental coverage that meets the needs of their children. A common question for parents is when coverage should begin. The answer varies, but most doctors recommend that parents begin early. Remember that the health of baby teeth can affect the health of permanent teeth that will replace them. In children, dentists check the placement as well as the health of permanent teeth waiting to replace baby teeth. For this reason, whether families sign on to a group or individual insurance plan, all family members, including young children, need access to sound dental care. In addition to a dental insurance plan, parents need to know the basics involved in caring for a child’s teeth. For example: brushing should begin early and should be done two to three times per day, particularly at night. Browse the articles below to learn more about this and other topics in pediatric dental care.
12/15/2005
A silent epidemic is impacting children in schools all across our area. Dental experts say it is one that affects not only their health, but their ability to learn. KTEN's Meghan McDermott has more in tonight's HealthWatch report.
There are so many factors that affect a child's ability to learn and succeed in school. We try to ensure that our kids have all of the proper tools. But some children may be handicapped by something that seldom occurs to parents or teachers-- oral health issues.
Kevin Haney, DDS, OU College of Dentistry: "A toothache, as we know, can be very painful.
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12/10/2005
Sitting and snacking on treats in front of the television for several hours a day increases a child's risk of developing dental decay? Many would probably have finished that sentence with the word, "obesity." Actually, both versions are correct, according to Carole A. Palmer, EdD, RD, professor of general dentistry at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. In an article entitled, "Dental Caries and Obesity in Children: Different Problems, Related Causes," Palmer shares some insights about possible relationships between obesity and dental decay in children.
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12/05/2005
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BELFAST - Children from families with low incomes have reason to smile this Christmas now that they have access to low-cost dental care.
Maine Oral Health Solutions opened its Penobscot Bay Children's Dental Center at 38 Spring St. two months ago. The dental clinic is one of three operated by the nonprofit agency under the state's EarlySmiles Program and the MaineSmiles school-based dental program that provides dental care through the public schools.
The Belfast clinic accepts children from throughout the eastern Maine region.
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11/23/2005
Teething Guide
Teething is a routine part of child development which can be uncomfortable for both your baby and you. Here are a few pointers to help guide you through the process:
What to Expect
Most infants sprout their first tooth at six to eight months, with the the last of the molars appearing between 20 to 30 months. Due to the discomfort and swelling, your infant may experience increased drooling, sleep disturbance, and crankiness. Teething is often blamed for an onslaught of other problems -- coughing, diarrhea, rashes, fever -- but a recent study found those maladies are unrelated much of the time.
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11/19/2005
If you have little ones, you can appreciate the struggle of trying to brush their teeth, and what happens when you let them tackle the job themselves! KTEN's Meghan McDermott has some expert tips for frustrated parents.
Rocio Quinonez, Pediatric Dentist: "Good job, I'm going to have you hold his hands for me."
It may look a little awkward.
Dr. Quinonez: "Try not to do this back and forth because that will spread the plaque only on back of teeth."
But the baby on his back is a tried and true brushing technique says pediatric dentist Rocio Quinonez.
Dr. Quinonez: "Look at your pretty pretty teeth.
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11/01/2005
Supporters say the resulting reduction in tooth decay would be dramatic, particularly for children whose families can't afford regular dental care. A study of Bellingham School District third-graders released earlier this year found 22 percent had cavities in seven or more teeth, compared with 8 percent in King County, which is partially fluoridated. If the measure passes, Bellingham would join roughly two-thirds of U.S. residents served by fluoridated water.
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10/30/2005
Are Your Children Getting Enough Calcium?
Calcium is one of the most important minerals for the growth and maintenance of the human body.
Your Child's First Visit to the Dentist
Your child's first oral health visit should take place at 12 months of age, or shortly after the eruption of the first baby teeth.
Good Habits Start Early
The good habits you help your children develop early
in their lives can help make their teeth last a lifetime.
Dangers of Tongue Piercing
Piercing of the tongue, cheek and lips can have painful, damaging and even fatal consequences.
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10/12/2005
Who Is Your Child's Dentist?
More than half of American preschool children ages 2 through 5 have never been to a dentist! This was the sad conclusion of a large study published in the November 2002 issue of the American Journal of Public Health. Why might this be? Conflicting recommendations about the age of the first dental visit have left many parents confused or unaware about when to start. The dentists of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommend that your child should see a pediatric dentist at least once when the first tooth appears, or no later than his/her first birthday.
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10/07/2005
The University of Rochester Medical Center study is published in the October edition of Pediatrics. It warns parents to stop allowing babies to drink sugary liquids from bottles, or to sweeten water with honey, which has been promoted as good for dental health, or to let babies fall asleep on the nipple.
The authors do not advocate switching from breastfeeding to cow milk, nevertheless they do alert nursing mothers to the need for oral hygiene after feedings, especially when the infant's first teeth have begun to emerge.
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10/01/2005
Dentists whose careers have spanned two generations say the gap between today's children and those of the 1960s is astonishing. They credit dental sealants, fluoridated water and toothpaste, dental insurance and an increasingly health-conscious public.
"Usually, we felt that there would be a cavity for each year of life," said Dr. Allan Dworkin, a Cross Keys, Md., pediatric dentist, recalling the patients he saw when he began practicing in 1969. Now, he says, the majority of children coming for checkups have experienced no decay since their last visit.
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Child Dentistry Archive
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