Why See a Dentist
Because a healthy smile lasts a lifetime and that starts NOW! Teeth are an important part of your body and keeping them clean helps keep your mouth and your body healthy. By taking care of your child’s teeth, eating a balanced diet, and visiting the dentist regularly, you can help ensure healthy teeth permanent teeth as well and an attractive smile throughout his or her entire life.
Pediatric dentists learn about dental problems specific to children and adolescents. The additional training specific to children’s needs that Dr. Cooper received helps benefit your child directly. His expertise in this area means that patients can be assured they are receiving the best information from a specialist.
Dr. Cooper also studied child psychology in order to understand children's needs from their perspective. From the ambience of the office, to the caring professional staff, the entire practice is built around caring for the children.
When should my child see the Pediatric Dentist?
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that a child sees the pediatric dentist as soon as the first tooth erupts (usually around 6 months) or at least by the age of 1 (if they don’t already have teeth by this age!)
But they’re just baby teeth! They’ll just fall out.
Primary teeth are important in maintaining proper nutrition. Teeth that hurt make it hard or sometimes impossible for a child to eat the foods they need to help grow. Infections from dental bacteria can lead to pain or spread to other teeth or even other parts of the body such as the heart. Every child is entitled to a life free of dental pain and infection.
How often should my child visit the dentist?
It is valuable to have a checkup at least every six months. Consistent dental care is important to prevention as cavities can progress more rapidly in primary teeth.
What happens when I visit the dentist?
At your child’s checkup, he or she will receive a thorough cleaning and an oral exam by our staff. During the oral exam, we check the health of your child’s mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks, and tongue. At each visit, we also checks old fillings and restorations because constant pressure from chewing, grinding, or clenching can cause them to wear away, chip, or crack. Additionally, we perform an oral cancer screening as well as an assessment to your child’s risk for cavities (CaMBRA).