Reasons to Establish a Dental Home for Your Children
Johns Creek, GA – Sure enough, home is where the heart is. But we want to redefine what many parents know as home by talking to you about the necessity for a dental home where your child can receive all the help they require for proper dental development.
You may have heard about it, but “dental home” is a term that has grown in popularity in the past few years. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry defines it as a place where qualified specialists can deliver comprehensive oral care to cover various aspects of your child’s oral health; likewise, a dental home must become a safe place for children that delivers care in a family-centered way. The AAPD recommends establishing a dental home no later than the child’s first birthday.
Have you established a dental home for your children? If not, read on. Today we’re sharing 4 benefits of having a dental home.
1. You have a trusted practice to call if there is a dental emergency.
The last thing you want to do when your child has suffered dental trauma is pediatric research dentists to find somewhere to seek treatment. Establishing a dental home for your child by age 1 means you already know whom to call in the event of a dental emergency. You can take your child to a dental office that they are already familiar with and receive treatment from people who have knowledge of your child’s dental history.
We build time into our daily schedules to address emergency cases, and we have an answering service for after-hours emergencies.
Please keep in mind that dental emergencies can turn into life-threatening situations when left unchecked. Make sure you know where to take your child in case of any such scenario and what signs to look for when examining your kid.
2. Prevent oral disease.
Having a dental home and maintaining routine check-ups so children receive professional teeth cleanings, fluoride treatments, dental sealants, and other preventive treatments, helps keep your children’s teeth healthy and disease-free. Wouldn’t you rather prevent your children from getting cavities and other dental diseases than incur the costs of treating the disease and repairing the damage it causes?
We don’t mean to worry our readers, but the prevalence of tooth decay and cavities in children is staggering. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) points to a whopping 45.8% of all US kids as having some type of tooth decay. And this number only seems to be going up as more and more families continue to disregard recommendations on how to use sugar alternatives for kids and maintain good oral hygiene even from an early age.
3. Prevent small problems from becoming more extensive.
It’s true that we cannot prevent absolutely every difficult situation or dental problem. However, when they do arise, early treatment from a professional helps increase your kids’ chances of preserving as much natural tooth structure as possible and avoiding a prolonged and uncomfortable treatment.
Your best ally is to keep visiting your kid’s dental home regularly, where professionals like Dr. Nana can keep a close eye on your child’s dental development and identify any incoming problems as early as possible. The earlier we can address a problem, the less likely it is to develop into something else that requires an extensive and potentially expensive solution.
4. Provide an educational resource to promote good oral health.
Establishing your children’s dental home early means we can give you information on preventing oral disease in infants, young children, and school-age children.
Our assistance can begin even before you give birth. We offer prenatal advice on oral health care for expecting mothers as a means of helping reduce the incidence of tooth decay in children down the road. The establishment of a dental home is important when it comes to promoting good oral health in children and helping establish a lifetime of healthy habits that enable children to keep their natural teeth for their lifetime. It is particularly important for the following, according to the National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center:
- Children who are at high risk for oral disease
- Children with special health care needs
- Children whose mothers have high tooth decay rates
- Children who sleep with a bottle or breastfeed during the night
- Children from low-income families
What Are Some Available Dental Treatments for Kids?
As the best pediatric dentist Johns Creek residents can find for their kids, Dr. Nana and the team at Polkadot Pediatric Dentistry focus on delivering treatment that fits into two categories: preventative dentistry treatments and corrective treatments.
Preventative Pediatric Dentistry
As we mentioned above, some of these treatments are professional teeth cleanings, fluoride treatments, and dental sealants. These treatments don’t have to go up against raging infections, considerable damage, or anything as worrying as that.
Instead, preventive pediatric dentistry treatments help strengthen your kids’ teeth and prevent the onset of tooth decay from an early age. We cannot stress the importance of maintaining good oral health from a young age enough, so make sure you get in touch with our office to learn more about the available treatments.
Corrective Treatments
Unfortunately, sometimes bad things happen, and your kid’s teeth require help to fight off an infection or correct a cavity that threatens their structural integrity.
In any such cases, we can perform a baby root canal, fillings and restorations, and dental crowns. All these treatments help get rid of any damage, superficial or otherwise and restore the function of your kids’ teeth.
Get Help from Your Johns Creek Pediatric Dentist
Please call our office today if you would like to establish a dental home for your family. For your convenience, our new patient paperwork is available online. Feel free to complete it at your convenience and bring it to your child’s first appointment. We look forward to meeting you in person soon.