When it comes to general dentistry practices, these offices typically include primary care dental providers. A general dentist focuses on diagnosing dental problems, treating dental issues, and overall oral health care. General dentists may provide gum care, teeth cleaning, root canals, veneers, bridges, and preventative dentistry. However, just as there are dentists that focus on adult dentistry, there are some that focus specifically on treating children. Often, these dentists are better to take a child to because not only are their staff better able to handle a child who may be afraid of the dentist, but they are aware of common dental problems that can develop in childhood.
Some parents do not recognize the importance of dental care in childhood. Many believe children may not require dental care until their adult teeth begin to erupt. Your children go through various stages of development, and as you focus on age-appropriate health care, you should also concentrate on age-appropriate dental care.
Children should first visit the dentist before they reach one year old. Parents do not always realize babies can have their first cavity as soon as the first tooth erupts. In addition to preventative care, babies become accustomed to the dentist's office and may feel less fear throughout childhood and adulthood.
During the early appointments, general dentists help parents learn to manage thumbsucking and teething. Additionally, parents may learn to manage diet in relation to children's oral health.
Toddlers develop fast, and when children reach the age of four, they may have various bad oral habits, such as sucking or chewing on fingers or thumbs. Going to the dentist by the age of four helps curb bad habits. According to the CDC, about 20% of children over the age of five have at least one untreated cavity. General dentistry addresses cavities and oral health habits for young children. It is good to start healthy oral hygiene habits young, as these practices will impact the child for the remainder of their life.
By the time children reach the age of seven, they begin to develop their molars. A dentist can examine a child's mouth and assess the front-to-back and side-to-side relationship of the teeth. If the dentist sees any abnormalities with the child's teeth or oral health, they can develop a plan early to prevent future problems. Dentists do not only examine the visible baby teeth, but they also check beneath the gums. Adults and children should both see dentists about every six months.
From the age of 10 through the teen years, children transition into adulthood. Risks for decay and gum disease may begin to develop during this time. The bacteria in a child's mouth starts to increase during the preteen years, and many of these bacteria can harm the teeth and gums. Children at this age may become more independent and develop poor oral habits or dietary habits that damage teeth. General dentistry emphasizes preventative care that preteens need at this point in their development. Gum disease is one of the more common childhood oral health conditions.
When you look for a dentist for your child, you should look for most of the same things that you look for in your own dentist. This might include knowledge, understanding, affordability, and reliability. One bad experience at the dentist can put people off from making subsequent appointments and cause young children, in particular, lots of distress.
Because children are more prone to having anxiety or outbursts at the dentist's office, you should look for staff who provide a calming and patient presence for your child. Once you find a good dentist with helpful staff, chances are you have found someone to be an advocate for your child's oral health for as long as you live nearby.
General dentistry emphasizes preventative care and treatment for a variety of oral health problems. Children of all ages should visit a dentist and should do so regularly, not only to prevent and treat dental problems but to start the habit of going to regularly scheduled appointments. When issues develop, early acknowledgment can prevent the issue from developing into something much worse. Starting children early helps alleviate the anxiety of dental care and can prevent many future problems and discomfort.
Request an appointment here: https://joyfuldentalcare.com or call Joyful Dental Care at (773) 736-7767 for an appointment in our Chicago office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: General Dentist in Chicago, IL.
A loose tooth is not something that anyone wants to deal with as an adult. Thankfully, general dentists are trained and equipped to know what to do when a patient experiences a loosened tooth. Adult teeth can become loose as a result of an infection in the oral cavity. More often than not, this is due…
Visiting a general dentist for routine cleanings is essential for preventing common dental problems such as tooth decay or gum disease. While brushing and flossing every day can help remove a majority of bacteria and plaque from the teeth, it is impossible to completely remove all buildup. Frequently scheduling dental cleanings makes it possible to…
Have you ever suffered from an injury that left your teeth in pain? How do you know if you have an injured tooth? How can it be fixed? An injured tooth doesn’t have to be the end of the world, even though there are some instances where it can be fatal. Keep your teeth healthy…
As you age, your body changes in all different types of ways, including your teeth, and the prospect of searching out geriatric dentistry will become essential. Aging is a natural process that no one can escape, and we are always searching for ways to slow the process down, prevent certain things from happening and keep…
The process of adjusting to new dentures takes several weeks. During this time, you may experience some discomfort and self-consciousness. Both partial and complete dentures take some getting used to. Your dentist gives you instructions for denture adjustment, and if you follow them closely, the process should be simple. However, it does require patience as…
Most first-time denture candidates are nervous about adjusting to new dentures. They usually do not know what to expect, and they may wonder if dentures will feel natural.People get dentures for many reasons, such as broken or missing teeth, excessive tooth decay, gum disease, severe tooth pain or trauma, and painful sensitivity to hot and…
