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Paediatric Dentistry

Little Big Smiles

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Taking care of the oral health of young people from babies to adolescents, we focus on prevention, early detection and treatment of dental problems. It is the aim of our dentist to ensure that children attending the surgery are cavity free and remain so for their lifetime.

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Paediatric Dentist

In order to maintain a healthy mouth and confident smile for life, it is essential that effective dental care starts early. Families at our surgery are encouraged to bring their children to us for their initial visit as soon as their first tooth appears. After that, regular dental visits are vital for maintaining long-term dental health to help keep mouths free from tooth decay and gum disease.

By teaching children the most effective brushing techniques from a young age, they will take these skills into adulthood.

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Prevention is best!

We recommend that children attend for a dental examination every six months from the age of two. These checkups, carried out by the dental hygienist under the direction of the dentist, include an examination of the child's teeth for any cavities present, an evaluation of the child for any susceptibility to dental problems, and advice on prevention and hygiene.

Children also need regular developmental checks to make sure that any irregularities in the growth and development of their teeth and jaws are noticed early; this makes sure that orthopaedic or orthodontic treatment can be started at a stage where it's most efficient and can produce a good, stable result. These checks are carried out by a dentist and the key ages for development checks are 2 years, 5 years, 8-9 years, 12 years and 15 years.

FAQs

When should a child's first visit to the dentist?
A child's first visit to the dentist should be when they get their first tooth and should be no later than 1 year after their birth. This exposure to the dental setting will prepare your child for future routine visits so that they become normal and expected.
What to expect at the first visit to the children's dentist?

The first routine visit to the dentist will be aimed at establishing a bond between the child and his/her dentist and dental nurse. This trust relationship will put the child at ease in the subsequent visits. The eating and brushing habits of the child are established to identify any tooth decay risks. Parents present in the room can be helpful as parents will be the ones to make sure a child keeps a good oral hygiene and the ones to control the diet. However, sometimes it may be better for a child to be in the surgery on their own as they will be more likely to follow the instructions as they will rely less on the parents.

Will dental x-rays cause any harm to my child?

The modern advancement means that x-rays these days are at least 90% weaker than they needed to be a few years ago because of the improvement and development of computer sensors. Dental x-rays are weak and they carry a very minute risk to a child health. Moreover, we are always careful at Abbey Dental Surgery about the amount of radiation a child gets and we endeavour to limit the use of x-rays until it is needed.

When should the regular visits to the dental hygienist start?

We advise that your child starts seeing a dental hygienist every 6 months from the age of 6. This gets them into the habit of seeing the hygienist and regularly.

What else can I do to prevent tooth decay?
Make sure that your children are not nursed to sleep. Their bedtime should include nothing other than water to prevent tooth decay. Moreover, you should learn and teach your child the correct way of brushing and flossing and make sure that they do it.
What products should I use to clean my child's teeth?

A toothbrush is a basic tool that your child will use for the rest of his/her life. Choose a soft-bristled small headed toothbrush in conjunction with a children's toothpaste. Get them into the habit of brushing at least twice a day.

Flouride containing toothpaste should be by the time your child is around 3 years of age. Before that, you can use the toothbrush with warm water. Constant supervision of children as they clean their teeth is needed to ensure that they do not use too much toothpaste and that they spit out any excess toothpaste.

Will the thumb sucking habit affect my child's oral health?

Children's thumb sucking habits are normally fine as most children develop them. They do not affect the development of teeth or jaws but if excessive may affect the child's thumbnail. If the habits are intense or prolong they may pose a risk to the child teeth and jaw development. For example, if the child has intense biting and grinding habits a visit to the dentist may be in place to try and get the child out of the habit which may be damaging. 

In the event of a toothache, what should I do?

If your child suffers from a toothache, the first thing you should do is try to ease the ache till you see a dentist. You can ease the pain by rinsing the affected area using warm water and putting a cold press on the face if it's swollen. Children's paracetamol liquid will also help in getting the pain under control. make sure you contact your dentist to see them as soon as possible.

What if my child loses a permanent tooth?

The first thing you should do is to calmly hold the knocked out tooth by the crown and try to reinsert in the socket before you see the dentist. If you could not do that, then put the tooth in a glass of milk and take the child and the tooth to the dentist.

24 Hour Emergency Hotline

If you need urgent treatment, please contact the surgery during normal working hours,
Outside of working hours please contact NHS 111 for advice on where you can get urgent care

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