Q: At what age should I make my child's first dental appointment?
A: Both the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Dental Association (ADA) recommend a child be seen by a dentist no later than his or her first birthday. This first appointment is similar to a well baby visit, a lap to lap visual examination will be performed of the child's teeth and both the parent and the dentist will get a chance to ask questions about the child. It's a great "get to know you" visit and starts your child off on the right track toward a lifetime of good check ups.
Q: My 3 year old child does not like me to brush for him, is he doing a good job by himself?
A: No, a child does not have the ability to brush properly until about age 7. Even then parental supervision is important to ensure a thorough job. If you would not trust you child to wash dishes well, they can not brush well alone.
Q: My child cries when I brush his teeth; am I hurting him?
A: No, brushing teeth is not a painful activity. If you think there are problems with the teeth or gums a check up should be scheduled. For the most part toddlers like to exert their Independence and do not like to be helped with anything, especially toothbrushing. Unfortunately, they do not have the ability to do a good job yet and still need your help. Make a game of brushing and try to make it fun. Tickle the child with the toothbrush and laugh a lot, sing a silly song, turn on a favorite TV program just for brushing time. Know that brushing is as important as changing a soiled diaper.
Q: When do I need to start flossing my child's teeth?
A: As soon as any teeth touch. This can be when the first 2 teeth are in the mouth at age 6 months. If teeth touch then a brush can not clean between them and only floss can clean those parts of the tooth. Special child flossers (Johnson and Johnson wild flossers©) are sold in the floss isle of stores and make it easy to floss for a child. The earlier you start the habit the easier it will be to make it routine.
Q: Which type of toothbrush should I use?
A: The brand of the toothbrush is not as critical as the type of bristle and the size of the head. A soft toothbrush with a small head is recommended because medium and hard brushes tend to cause irritation and contribute to recession of the gums. A small head allows you to get around each tooth more completely and is less likely to injure your gums. Brush at least twice a day in a gentle circle on all surfaces of the teeth and visit your dentist at least twice a year for professional cleanings. Electric toothbrushes do a great job without much effort. If you find yourself rushing an electric toothbrush may help you get the spots you may be missing and help you to brush longer.
Q: Is one toothpaste better than others?
A: Generally, no. However, it's advisable for children, ages 3 and older, and adults to use a fluoride containing toothpaste to strengthen teeth and decrease the incidence of cavities. We recommend our patients use what tastes good to them as long as it contains fluoride. Children 2 years old and younger should use a baby toothpaste without fluoride until they can spit well. While fluoride is important to strengthen teeth if too much is eaten it can cause white or brown spots on the teeth.
Q: Why should I floss?
A: Flossing of the teeth once per day helps to prevent cavities from forming between the teeth where your toothbrush can't reach. If you don't floss the bacteria that cause cavities camp out in these protected areas and chew into the teeth. Flossing also helps to keep your gums healthy. Bacteria cause gingivitis if not removed from the tooth daily.
Q: What's the difference between a "crown" and a "cap"?
A: These are restorations to repair a severely broken tooth by covering all or most of the tooth after removing old fillings, fractured tooth structure, and all decay. The restoration material is made of gold, porcelain, composites, or even stainless steel. Dentists refer to all of these restorations as "crowns". However, patients often refer to the tooth-colored ones as "caps" and the gold or stainless steel ones as "crowns".
Q: What's the difference between a "bridge" and a "partial denture"?
A: Both bridges and partial dentures replace missing teeth. A bridge is permanently attached to teeth or, in some cases, implants. A partial denture (like a retainer with teeth) is attached by clasps to the teeth and is easily removed by the patient at night and for cleaning.
Q: What about "silver" fillings versus "white" fillings?
A: We do not routinely offer amalgam (silver mercury fillings) in our office for various reasons. Although the U.S. Public Health Service issued a report in 1993 stating there is no health reason not to use amalgam (silver fillings) we have found that the benefits of tooth-colored composite fillings outweigh the benefits of the older metal fillings. More patients today are requesting "white" or tooth-colored composite fillings due to aesthetic reasons. We also prefer tooth-colored fillings because they "bond" or stick to the tooth structure and therefore help strengthen a tooth weakened by decay. White fillings are also usually less sensitive to temperature, and they also look better. However, "white" fillings cannot be used in every situation, and if a tooth is very badly broken-down, a crown will usually be necessary and provide better overall satisfaction for the patient.
Q: Do I need to have a root canal just because I have to have a crown?
A: No. While most teeth which have had root canal treatments do need crowns to strengthen the teeth and to return the teeth to normal form and function, not every tooth needing a crown also needs to have a root canal. | 
