A lot of the time, dentistry is described as a field of medicine that treats exclusively adults and teenagers. The logic typically goes like this: because children will lose their baby teeth eventually, there’s no point in examining their teeth until their adult teeth grow in.
Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth, and the mistaken logic could be dangerous for your child. To make it as easy as possible for the entire family to come see us we have extended hours Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and have an emergency line at (907) 312-2317 were we are available 24/7.
When Should A Child First Visit the Dentist?
So, as a parent, you’re probably wondering right now if your child is old enough to see the dentist. Most parents, when asked, would probably guess that their child’s first dental visit should be around age 5 (when they typically start losing their front teeth).
The answer, however, is actually several years off. The American Dental Association recommends that children be brought to a dentist by the time they finish their first year.
As soon as a baby grows his or her first teeth, that tooth is already in danger. In fact, there’s never a period of a time when a person’s teeth are considered “safe” from damage. Even when fed on a diet of milk, children are susceptible to the same tooth decay and damage that could affect an adult. Setting good habits like daily oral hygiene and regular dental visits can mean your child can start his or her life with healthy and clean teeth.
Are Children’s Baby Teeth Important?
Most parents can easily understand that setting good oral hygiene habits early on is important.
It is common for parents to start to question the importance of their childs baby teeth when their child first needs a baby tooth repaired (perhaps a cavity needs filling). After all, if the teeth are just going to disappear later, why spend the money to patch it up now?
From a financial standpoint, this logic unfortunately makes a lot of sense, but for a family dentist, it can be quite frightening. It is important for parents to understand that baby teeth are vitally important to a person’s future oral health because they form the foundation for his or her future adult teeth. Strong and solid baby teeth keep the spacing in the mouth consistent enough to leave enough room for the permanent teeth to grow in. Baby teeth that are damaged or even prematurely missing can lead to adult teeth that erupt improperly, meaning that foregoing a simple procedure today could mean expensive orthodontic procedures in the future.
Family Dental Services
Everyone, young or old, just growing teeth or needing replacements, needs a dentist, and we provide dental care for families in Anchorage accordingly. Family dentistry is for everyone in your family!
We customize our service for each member of your family, as we understand each age group has different needs, concerns, or dental fears.
CHILDREN AND TODDLERS:
- Baby Teeth: We are able to make sure your child’s smile is healthy and that teeth are growing in correctly and spaced evenly, hopefully avoiding expensive braces later.
- Cleanings: Teaching your children good brushing and flossing habits early in life is extremely important, and we can help!
TEENAGERS AND YOUNG ADULTS
- Wisdom Tooth removal: Due to the recovery time normal with this surgery we try to work around school breaks to give teens time to heal before returning to class.
- Athletic Mouth Guards: Many competitive sports in high school require the use of a mouth guard. For them to fit properly it is a good idea to consult your dentist.
- Oral Examinations and Teeth Cleanings: It is extremely important for young adults to develop good dental habits by the time they have the full set of their adult teeth. Regular visits and cleanings can re-enforce these habits.
FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
- Tooth Extractions: When a tooth has become significantly damaged it may need to be removed rather than fixed.
- Root Canal Therapy: We will treat and eliminate the infection and apply protection for the tooth so you don’t have future issues.
- Whitening and Cosmetic Filings: Having a bright, white smile is important and we will help you keep your teeth looking their best.
- Dentures and Dental Implants: Dealing with failing or missing teeth with one of these procedures can be a permanent fix to oral health issues.
While the type of care you dental you need as you age changes, the need for a quality dentist that you can trust, and that has your health as their number one concern doesn’t. The Mint Dental family wants to be your home for family dentistry.
Maintaining a culture of good oral health in your home
Because baby teeth are so important, starting and maintaining a “culture” of dentistry in your home can keep everyone’s teeth healthy and happy. The best way to do this is by creating and keeping up with a daily oral hygiene regime. Take care of your child’s teeth as soon as they grow in until he or she can do it independently. You can do this by carefully brushing and flossing the teeth, setting a good example for the future.
Just as importantly, though, you should begin to consistently visit a family dentist. Every six months, you should schedule an appointment for every member of your family. By doing this your dentist can not only regularly “deep-clean” you and your child’s teeth, but also find and fix any tooth-related issues before they become full-blown crises.
If you’re looking for a family dentist in Anchorage, AK, look no further. At Mint Dental Alaska, we have a team of dentists ready to take a look and you and your children’s teeth. Call our office at (907) 646-8672 or visit our website at Mintdentalak.com today to set up an appointment!
Questions about Family Dentistry?
If you’re looking for a family dentist in Anchorage, AK, look no further. At Mint Dental Alaska, we have a team of dentists ready to take a look and you and your children’s teeth. Call our office at (907) 646-8670 today to set up an appointment!
