Heath Pediatric Dentistry provides general, pediatric, cosmetic and restorative dental services to all children ages 0-18.  We also understand how difficult it is to find a dentist for older children with special health care needs. Because of this, we would love to continue treating or help with your special health care needs children if they are not already a patient.  Please click on our Special Needs Dentistry tab for more details.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends visiting the dentist within 6 months of the eruption of the first tooth.  This means typically between 6-12 months old.  We can look for potential problems and help your child get to know us as their friend. These early visits can make your child’s experience with a dentist a positive one.  We can also help if you are worried about any potential problems or have concerns about your infant’s oral health.

We will conduct a thorough examination on their first visit to determine the best course of action to achieve dental health. We will:

• Take full mouth x-rays, if age appropriate, to identify any current problems and to use as a baseline on future visits to detect early signs of problems.
• Assess gum condition and health.
• Examine teeth for cavities and condition of old dental restorations.
• Perform a head and neck exam, including salivary glands and lymph nodes, for swelling or other abnormalities.
• Screen for oral cancer and TMJ (jaw joint).
• Clean and polish teeth.

Many health conditions can affect your child's mouth, teeth, and oral health, so their medical information is very important in diagnosing issues with their teeth, gums and mouth.

Fillings can last for many years, but over time they wear down, discolor, crack and sometimes fall out. Early detection of problems with fillings can help you avoid getting cavities under the filling and causing more serious decay. Let us know if your child is experiencing any pain. We’ll check their fillings at every visit to determine if any need to be replaced.

Composite (white) fillings are widely preferred to amalgam (silver).  At Heath Pediatric Dentistry we do not use amalgam due to specific properties in baby teeth that do not allow it to function properly.  Composite fillings allow the dentist to only treat the part of the tooth that has a cavity, therefore, preserving natural, healthy tooth structure.

In most cases, yes. Dental x-rays are essential in diagnosing cavities and other jaw problems.  Many cavities occur between teeth and cannot be seen by just looking inside of the mouth. Due to the anatomy of a baby tooth, cavities grow faster and can become a serious issue much quicker than an adult tooth.  If left untreated, these conditions can create serious dental and general health problems, including a painful dental infection or loss of the tooth. Early detection with x-rays can make treatment much less painful, faster, and less expensive.

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, you should begin cleaning your child’s gums with a soft cloth soon after birth. As soon as the first tooth appears, start brushing twice daily with a soft infant toothbrush and a “rice” sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste. When you come in for your child’s first visit, we’ll show you how to brush properly.