FAQ
Q: When should my child first see the dentist?
A: Preventing dental disease is always better than fixing its damage! Therefore, we recommend a child first see a dentist by age 1 or within six months of getting their first tooth. At this early visit, called a Well Baby Dental Visit, you will receive information about how to keep your baby’s teeth and mouth healthy and what to avoid that can make this more difficult in the future.
Q: Why are baby teeth important?
A: Children with healthy teeth have been shown to be healthier, perform better in school, and have higher self-esteem. Baby teeth have nerves in them that can cause toothaches just like permanent teeth, and dental infections can actually spread more rapidly in children than in adults. Also, the baby teeth help guide the permanent teeth into the mouth and into the correct position.
Q: What causes tooth decay?
A: There are many factors that contribute to tooth decay. Simply put, specific bacteria in our mouths feed off of any sugars we eat, and then they drop acid onto our teeth. If this occurs often, the tooth will begin to dissolve away, creating a “cavity.” Our experience is that tooth decay in children is often related to what they drink. Have you ever looked at how much sugar is in one bottle of apple juice? It is not uncommon to for a 10oz bottle of apple juice to contain 8 teaspoons (31 grams) of natural sugar!! Artificial juice drinks can have 11 teaspoons of sugar! This is too much sugar for the teeth or the body.
Q: Who will see my child at the School of Dentistry?
A: Treatment is provided by a team headed by a Board Certified or Board Eligible Pediatric Dental specialist. Residents, who are receiving specialized training specific to the treatment of children, dental students, who are training to become general dentists, and dental assistants complete the team.
Q: What is a “Pediatric Dentist”?
A: Pediatric dentists, in addition to completion of four years of dental school, have completed a two- or three-year residency program providing additional training specific to treating the dental needs of children and people with special needs. Pediatric dental residency programs include advanced training and experience with behavior guidance techniques, sedation, general anesthesia, growth and development, interceptive orthodontics, medically compromised children, and special needs individuals.
Q: What if my child is scared of dental treatment?
A: If your child is scared of coming to the dentist, please know you are not alone. At UAB, we recognize that having someone looking inside your mouth can be an intimidating thing. That is why we are committed to not just “treating teeth.” We want to coach our patients into being comfortable with dentistry. We have many techniques that can help with this, but the most important is communication. Also, if advanced behavioral techniques are needed, we believe that you as the parent should be an integral part of the decision process on which techniques are best for your child.
Q: What should I tell my child before a dentist appointment?
A: We recommend not making a big deal about coming to the dentist. Simply let the child know that they are coming to see the dentist, the dentist is nice and if they will listen, the dentist will tell them everything they are going to do. Please avoid making jokes about needles, shots, pulling teeth out, etc. While as adults we get the joke, often children don’t and they can become seriously scared!!
Q: I have been referred because my child needs to be “put to sleep” for dental care. What should I expect?
A: General anesthesia or oral sedation are valuable behavior guidance techniques for some children. However, these techniques do have associated risks involved, so we never want to use them unprepared. If you have been referred for treatment of this type, please understand that your first visit will be a consultation only where the actual treatment will be planned and discussed with you. We will NEVER provide sedation or general anesthesia treatment during a first visit.