Have questions about your child’s dental care? Check out our list of frequently asked questions below. Our pediatric dentist and his team would be more than happy to help!
To learn more, please feel free to reach out to our pediatric dental practice in Grand Rapids, MI. Call Pediatric Dentistry of Michigan at (616) 447-7900.
A pediatric dentist has 2 to 3 years of specialized training after completing dental school. This training includes extensive knowledge in the growth and development of the teeth and mouths of infants, children, and adolescents. This knowledge is used to take care of any current dental problems and help young people avoid future dental problems. Pediatric dentists are the “pediatricians” of teeth.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends children visit a dentist within 6 months after the eruption of the first primary tooth or no later than 12 months of age. The reason for this early visit is to provide families with information on development, diet, and care to enhance a child’s opportunity for a lifetime free from preventable oral disease (cavities).
Talk to your child about the positive aspects of going to the dentist. One way to convey good feelings to your child about dental visits is to remind them that going to the dentist is a sign they are growing up. Expect your child to do well and enjoy their visit to our office.
You can explain that Dr. Kim and his staff will be counting and taking pictures of your child’s teeth. Our staff is very careful with the words used to talk about dental care. Words such as “needle,” “shot,” or “hurt” are not spoken. We strive to keep our office in a child-friendly environment.
If a previous dentist has seen your child and dental X-rays have been taken, please let us know. We may request that the X-rays be sent to our office prior to your child’s first visit.
Communication between our office and you as the parent is an essential part of caring for your child. If you cannot speak English or have a difficult time understanding it, we request that you please bring an adult (18 years or older) to help you with the process of communicating with Dr. Kim and his staff.
Parents are welcome to accompany their child into the treatment area during the initial examination. This is a great time to get acquainted with Dr. Kim and his friendly staff. During this visit, Dr. Kim will do a full examination to evaluate your child’s dental needs.
If your child has not yet had a teeth cleaning or is due for one, this also may be done at the first visit. We have many great flavors of tooth polish your child may choose from to make the cleaning a pleasant experience. We will take only necessary X-rays to aid in determining what steps need to be taken for your .
At the conclusion of the , your child’s treatment needs will be discussed with you. If additional appointments are needed you will schedule return visits with the front office staff. An estimate of treatment costs will be given to you before you leave our office.
A child who has a habit of constantly sipping a sugar or acid-containing liquid during the day or night will be more likely to have decay begin early. To prevent or reduce “sipping decay,” water or non-sugar containing liquids can be given at non-meal or bedtimes.
The table below shows the sugar and acid contained in some popular beverages.
Acid* (Low = Bad) |
Sugar** (Per 12 oz serving) |
|
|
Pure Water |
7.0 (neutral) |
0 Tsp |
|
Barq’s Root Beer |
4.0 |
11 Tsp |
|
Minute Maid® Orange Juice |
3.8 |
9 Tsp |
|
Propel® Fitness Water |
3.4 |
1 Tsp |
|
Red Bull® |
3.3 |
10 Tsp |
|
Sprite® |
3.3 |
10 Tsp |
|
Mountain Dew® |
3.3 |
12 Tsp |
|
Diet Coke® |
3.1 |
0 Tsp |
|
Sierra Mist |
3.1 |
10 Tsp |
|
Full Throttle Energy Drink |
3.0 |
11 Tsp |
|
Diet Pepsi® |
3.0 |
0 Tsp |
|
Gatorade® |
2.9 |
5 Tsp |
|
Sunkist® Orange Soda |
2.9 |
13 Tsp |
|
Dr. Pepper® |
2.9 |
10 Tsp |
|
Vault Energy Soda |
2.9 |
12 Tsp |
|
Amp-Mountain Dew® |
2.8 |
11 Tsp |
|
SoBe ® Energy Citrus |
2.6 |
12 Tsp |
|
Minute Maid® Lemonade |
2.6 |
10 Tsp |
|
Pepsi® |
2.5 |
11 Tsp |
|
Diet Schweppes Tonic Water |
2.5 |
0 Tsp |
|
Coca-Cola® Classic |
2.4 |
10 Tsp |
|
Battery Acid |
1.0 |
0 Tsp |
Table: www.mndental.org
* Laboratory tests, Dr. John Ruby, University of Alabama, Birmingham School of Dentistry, 2007.
** 4.0 grams = 1 teaspoon sugar Minnesota Dental Association, Sip All Day, Get Decay, c 2002.
Dental injuries occur every day. Some injuries are minor and require little or no treatment while other injuries may require multiple treatment appointments.
If you have any questions about trauma to your child’s teeth, please call our office. We are here to help.
Please reference the chart here.
