The first visit for a child is recommended by age 12 months. Dr. Mac will evaluate eruption, check the child’s bite, address any oral habits, and determine caries risk. Depending on behavior and age (typically age 3) some childrenwill get x-rays and receive a cleaning and fluoride treatment. It is recommended that children visit the dentist every 6 months. The patient and their parents will also receive nutritional counseling as well as tips and tricks to properly care for a young child’s teeth. 

Teeth can become injured in many ways. For example, being hit by a baseball or a fall. Many contact sports require kids to wear a mouth guard. A “knocked out tooth” or avulsed tooth needs to be cleaned with saline or the child’s saliva and correctly placed back into the tooth socket correctly. If this can’t be done, put the tooth in milk and contact Dr. Mac ASAP. The tooth needs to be reimplanted within the hour for best results.

A luxated tooth is one that has been moved from its normal position in the socket. The tooth may need to be repositioned and splinted. Dr. Mac will determine what needs to be done depending on the amount of movement and the amount of time that has elapsed since the initial trauma.

Sealants are protective coverings that are bonded to the chewing surfaces of the back molars. They can help to prevent molars from trapping food in the deep grooves of the tooth. Sealants usually last approximately 3 years but may last long if the patient avoids sticky foods/candies and crunching on ice. Sealants reduce cavities on back molars by 80%. It is important that sealants are regularly checked and maintained at each 6 month check-up.