Your child’s first teeth
Your child’s first teeth begin to appear usually between six and nine months, though there are some cases this happens as early as three months or as late as twelve months. The first of the 20 teeth to appear are the two lower front teeth followed by the two upper teeth. Typically, the first molars are next followed by the canines (eye teeth). You can help teething discomfort by wiping your child’s gums and newly erupting teeth with a water-soaked gauze pad or damp washcloth.
Primary teeth guide the eruption of permanent (adult) teeth, holding the space into which these new teeth will erupt. For about the first six years, primary teeth help with biting, chewing and speaking. Until around age 12, your child will have a mix of primary and permanent teeth. You will want to make sure those teeth stay healthy and are lost naturally — when it's time.
Daily brushing routine
When your baby's first tooth erupts, it is time to begin the daily brushing routine. We recommend using a small, soft-bristled toothbrush with a smear of fluoridated toothpaste or a toothpaste with hydroxyapatite. You will need to help your child with this important task until they're old enough to tie their own shoes (around age 7).
Pediatric Smile Care
Dr. P believes in a conservative approach to dentistry with a focus on prevention. She loves to create a personalized plan with you that works for your family and your child’s needs. We want to provide you and your children with the tools to establish great oral hygiene habits that will last a lifetime.
Topical Fluoride
Fluoride makes the teeth harder and more resistant to decay. Although there is a small amount of fluoride in toothpastes and in some drinking water, a higher concentration can be applied professionally to your child’s teeth for maximum protection.
Dental Cleanings (Prophylaxis)
We provide a gentle and thorough cleaning to help prevent cavities and promote overall oral health during their regular six-month appointment.
Restorative Treatment
If your child has lost or damaged a tooth, our team of dental professionals can perform pediatric restorative dentistry to help improve the appearance, function, and overall health of your child’s smile.
White Zirconia Crowns
We offer white zirconia crowns to protect your child’s tooth from further decay.
Tooth Extractions
We remove teeth as a last resort when tooth decay, disease, over retention/orthodontic need, or trauma may interfere with the normal oral development.
Space Maintenance
When space is left behind by a lost baby tooth, we utilize a custom space maintainer to ensure your child’s permanent teeth have adequate room to create a healthy smile.
Sedation Dentistry
Based on your child’s specific needs and treatment, we offer sedation options to help your child feel relaxed and at ease. We offer nitrous oxide (laughing gas) in the office, and for more complex treatments we offer general anesthesia at a surgical center or hospital.
Frenectomy
We use a top-of-the-line CO2 laser to create normal tongue and lip function, allowing for a better latch and more efficiency in breastfeeding for both infants and toddlers/children. Normal speech development, sleeping through the night, self-cleansing the mouth during eating, adequate swallowing patterns, and proper growth and development are all promoted by proper tongue function. Correcting a lip tie can also aid in improving speech, oral hygiene, and preventing a gap between the front two teeth.
Dental Sealants
We can apply a tooth-colored coating that seals the chewing surfaces of your child’s teeth, providing years of protection against dental caries.
Dental Emergency Services
If you are unsure if the pain your child is experiencing requires immediate attention, please call us.
Tooth-colored Fillings
When necessary, we use composite fillings with a tooth colored resin to fill in cavities. As a result, fillings blend in naturally.
Root Canal Therapy
Often thought of as a procedure only for adults, some children need root canals to save a severely decayed or injured tooth.
Silver Diamine Fluoride
We can apply a coating to kill bacteria that causes tooth decay and prevent, slow, and stop further decay.
Special Needs Dentistry
We love working with patients with special needs. We speak to the parent or guardian to learn how to best help your child and tailor our compassionate care to their individual needs.
“explained everything well”
Dr Phillips and her staff were all great. We had our infants tongue and lip tie released. Dr Phillips explained everything well from the procedure to the stretches what to watch for and she does a follow up appointment to make sure everything is still going well. We would definitely recommend.
We can’t wait to
meet you and your child
We look forward to meeting you.
Call 208-500-KIDS (5437) or request an appointment online to set up your first visit. We’ll be in touch soon.
