My First Dental Adventure
"First visit by first birthday" pretty much sums it up! According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, your child should have a dental visit to a pediatric dentist when that first tooth comes shining thru. This usually takes place between six and twelve months of age. Early visits to a pediatric dentist will help protect your child's smile now and in the future and will also decrease the fear of all dental visits.

They are JUST baby teeth?
Are baby teeth REALLY that important? They REALLY are! Baby teeth benefit children in lots of ways. Children with healthy teeth, not only chew food easily, learn to speak clearly, but also have confidence to show off that great smile. Dental problems can begin at any age and with children, baby bottle decay or nursing caries is a common occurence. Strong baby teeth provide a path that permanent teeth will follow when ready to erupt.

FLUORIDE, is that like spinach for Popeye?
Skinned knees, mosquito bites and cavities used to be the facts of life, but thanks to fluoride, cavities are struggling to remain in those statistics. Fluoride, while coming in many forms; gels, foams and varnish, encourages remineralization (the strengthening of weak areas on teeth.) The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a child to have a fluoride treatment at each 6 month dental check-up.

Seal those sugar bugs OUT
What's a Sealant? Sealants are like fingernail polish for your teeth. Sealants prevent food, plaque and bacteria to build up in the crevices of your teeth, therefore, reducing the risk of decay. When applied, a special light is used to glue a clear or shaded plastic material to your tooth. We clean up the tooth, put a "fresh coat of polish" on and you are good to go!

Do I REALLY need a mouthguard?
All children are going to have accidents, but why not lessen the chance of oral injuries as much as you can? If your child is going to play ANY sport, they must wear a mouthguard! Mouthguards are just the thing to protect those little smiles. A mouthguard is an appliance made out of plastic. To make a mouthguard, we take an impression of your child's teeth and fabricate a mouthguard in our office. We recommend replacing the mouthguard depending on your childs growth and development.

OH MY! IT'S AN EMERGENCY!!!!
If there are children in your home, at some point and time, you are going to have a dental emergency. The most important thing to remember when dealing with an emergency is to call the professionals! Accidents are going to happen and many times a bandaid can fix most bumps, scrapes and bruises, but with teeth, it's different. Here at Fishers Pediatric Dentistry, we ALWAYS have someone on call to help, NEVER hesitate to call us at 317-514-5157.

Why do I have to brush, AGAIN?
Starting a routine at an early age will promote a lifetime of good dental health. That's why pediatric dentists encourage children to brush and floss at least twice a day. Home care takes just minutes a day and prevents needless dental problems. So, start your day with a bright shining smile and end your day "sugar-bug" free.

MOUTH FULL OF WIRES! Can I get TV reception with my braces?
Crooked and crowded teeth are common in children. Thanks to technology, early intervention with braces or an appliance can reduce the severity of dental problems and lessen the time your child is in braces. We offer a limited amount of orthodontics for minor teeth movement or arch expansion. We will assess your child every six months and inform you if and when orthodontics is needed.

Good food, bad food, what's the difference?
Everyone loves to snack! Of course we recommend fruits and vegtables as the #1 choice for snacks, however, we know kids would prefer candy. If candy is a request, chocolate is the treat! Unlike sticky, gooey candies, the saliva in your mouth is strong enough to dissolve the chocolate reducing the chance of cavities. Sugary juices and soda pop are other culprits we strongly recommend you avoid and milk at bedtime is a big no-no as well. SNACK SMART!

Two visits yearly? Is that really necessary?
Not only do we want to see your smiling face, but the American Dental Association recommends a fluoride treatment and check up every 6 months. Having a complete dental check up two times a year is a MUST! Even though your home care is good, it is always good to let the professionals monitor your progress. When we see you, we can give tips on home care to make things that much easier. We promote prevention and the best way to get ahead of the game is to see us every six months.

X-rays, AGAIN?
What's all the HOOPLA about x-rays? Since every child is unique and because their mouths grow and change rapidly, x-rays are needed to monitor decay, injury and erupting teeth patterns. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentisty recommends x-ray examinations every six months for children with a high risk of tooth decay. Pediatric dentists are particularly careful to minimize the exposure of radiation. With the help of safeguards such as, lead aprons and high-speed equipment and film, your child will receive a minimal amount of radiation exposure.

A cavity? NOW WHAT?
As long as we have teeth, unfortunately, there are going to be cavities! Depending on how sick the tooth is will determine what measures we take to make it well again. There are many types of materials and procedures we can use.

Fillings are most common and they are either silver or white. Silver or amalgam fillings tend to be stronger and are able to withstand the biting force of back teeth. White or resin fillings are a plastic material used to restore front teeth and smaller cavities.

Sometimes, cavities are large and require more than just a filling, if this is the case a cap or crown will be placed. A crown is just that! It sets right on top your tooth and totally covers the tooth structure allowing normal chewing to continue.

If a cavity is allowed to grow, it can move deep into the tooth infecting the nerve. If this happens, a pulpotomy is needed. When a pulpotomy is done, the "sick" part of the nerve is removed and medicine is placed to promote healing.

My tooth is too sick to keep, what can I do?
The one good thing about having a tooth removed by our office is that the tooth fairy pays you double! Sometimes if a tooth has severe decay or gets broken in an accident, it may need to be extracted. The important thing to remember about baby teeth is if they are sick, they can pass that along to the permanent teeth. But never fear, if we remove a tooth, you may get to wear an appliance with a shiny ring to show all your friends. This is called a space maintainer and it does just that, it maintains space for your permanent tooth. It will keep your other teeth from tilting or drifting into a space where it doesn't belong.

SO WHAT, if I suck my thumb?
If your thumb tasted like strawberry or chocolate, would you stop? Thumbsucking is a habit that most children give up by the age of four. Some children have difficulty breaking this habit. Depending on the frequency, duration, intensity and position of the thumb in the child's mouth, they may develop crooked teeth or bite problems. This can also effect the position of the upper and lower jaw and affect speech.

You can encourage your child to stop by using a reward system, praise them when they don't suck their thumb, use reminders such as a bandaid around the thumb. Sometimes there are underlying reasons why they do it, so focus on the cause to try to stop the behavior.

Extra special care for extra special kids
Pediatric dentists take at least two or more years of advanced training beyond dental school. Their education as specialists focuses on care for children with special needs. At Fishers Pediatric Dentistry, not only are our doctors experienced in the treatment of children, but our team members have anywhere from 5-15 years of experience. Depending on the specific health needs of your child, techniques will be selected and then discussed.

Scared of the dentist? Who ME?
It's ok to feel scared or nervous about coming to the dentist. Fortunately, we have some procedures that will help with those feelings. The most common procedure used in pediatric dental offices is nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide is a blend of two gases, oxygen and nitrous oxide. When inhaled, your child will experience a pleasant smell and have a feeling of relaxation. This will help create a positive dental experience.

Since all children are not alike, nitrous oxide doesn't work for everyone. Fortunately, there are other methods of medication that we offer. If your child needs something extra, we will discuss the options that best suit your child's needs.

What to do after dental work!
Grab your blankie, lay on the couch and watch your favorite cartoon! Actually, after dental work, your child can still remain active. They can eat soft foods, but avoid the sticky foods and candy. Sticky foods can cause a filling or an appliance to come off. Be careful of your lip, tongue and cheek because you probably won't be able to feel them for a few hours. If you've had an extraction, don't drink through a straw or spit. If needed, your child can take children's advil/motrin or tylenol. Our staff will review instructions specifically for your child before you leave our office.

Pediatric Dentist? Why?
Because they LOVE children! A pediatric dentist is uniquely qualified to protect your child's oral health, using the most advanced techniques. They have additional training at university pediatric facilities where they learn how to deal with the behavioral aspects of children, how to make them feel comfortable, and to make the experience as pleasant as possible. They are also trained and qualified to treat special needs patients. A pediatric dental office is specially designed to make your child's dental visit a fun and pleasant experience!