Guiding a child through their pediatric dental care journey is a key aspect of their overall health and well-being, beginning with the very first tooth eruption and continuing into adolescence. As a family owned and operated practice, this is especially important to us at Cedarwood Dentistry.
Understanding dental milestones and phases of growth is essential for nurturing healthy development. Here are the dental milestones most children should be meeting, how you can help nurture healthy habits for your family, and what dental care we recommend at each phase of a child’s life.
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Dental Milestones from Infancy to Adolescence
- First Tooth Eruption – The emergence of the first baby tooth is the first dental milestone parents and guardians should look for. It typically occurs between 6 to 12 months of age and is known as teething.
- Baby Teeth Complete – By age 2, a child will usually have a complete set of 20 primary baby teeth.
- Anterior Primary Teeth Begin to Loosen and Fall Out – This process occurs naturally around ages 5 or 6 years old so that new adult teeth have room to come in.
- New Molars Come in Behind Baby Molars – Around 6 years of age, children will get a new set of permanent molars that grow in behind their baby molars. These molars are here to stay and will not fall out like the baby molars in front of them.
- Baby Molars Fall Out and Are Replaced by New Premolars – Children continue to lose their baby teeth, which are replaced by adult teeth from ages 5 to about 12 years old. The last of the teeth to fall out and be replaced are the baby molars.
First Tooth and Early Dental Milestones:
Your child’s pediatric dental care journey should begin when the first tooth erupts. Baby teeth, despite being temporary, play a critical role in a child’s development, aiding in speech, chewing, and holding space for permanent teeth.
“It’s important for people to realize that your kids’ baby teeth are important to keep healthy, especially molars, because they’re in the mouth until 11 or 12 years old,” says Dr. Chris Wolberg of Cedarwood Dentistry in Midlothian, Virginia.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends kids visit the dentist at signs of the first tooth breaking through. That first visit includes a nutrition discussion, and looking in the mouth for things like lip and tongue ties, and familiarizing the child with being at the dentist. This visit usually only takes about 10 minutes.
Parent Tips: Set good dental habits for yourself and your child since children watch your example and germs can be spread through kissing or getting close to your child. It is also recommended to avoid over exposure to juice, soda, or other acid drinks and especially at night. Only water for crib/ bed.
Preschool Dentistry
As kids move beyond infancy, patient visits become more involved and can include teeth brushing, polishing, rinsing, and flossing. Now is the time when parents really need to form healthy dietary habits for their child and understand the negative effects of juice and other sugary drinks and foods.
“Baby teeth are not as strong as our adult teeth so they’re more susceptible to decay and you don’t want to leave decay on the tooth unless it’s about to come out,” says Dr. Wolberg. “If the decay isn’t treated, then children can get toothaches and it becomes an emergency, which is not fun for anybody.”
For children who present with cavities at this age, Dr. Wolberg of Cedarwood Dentistry offers a treatment called Carries Arrest that stops cavities from growing further. While cavities at this age aren’t common, children who consume lots of sugar throughout the day can develop them. While Dr. Wolberg does do fillings on children who need them he will occasionally refer them to a pediatric dentist if he decides it is in the child’s best interest.
Parent Tips: Avoid juice when possible as juice hits the front teeth first with sugar and increases cavity risks. Cedarwood Dentistry also recommends that parents help brush their children’s teeth until a child can write their own name because kids don’t have the dexterity or patience to do it on their own until that time.
Elementary Dentistry
During the elementary years when children are losing their baby teeth and adult teeth begin to come in, dentists apply fluoride treatments to help prevent cavities at routine visits. They also begin to take panoramic x-rays of the teeth to see how the teeth are coming in, whether any teeth are missing, and also to see how the mouth and airway are forming.
“We always ask kids around 5 or 6 years old how they are sleeping and see how their palette is forming,” says Dr. Wolberg. “If we notice signs of mouth breathing, this could mean sleeping issues.”
If issues are detected via x-ray, dentists will discuss family history with the patient and their family and in most cases continue monitoring oral development until specific actions can be taken to correct issues, including missing teeth and overcrowding. If mouth breathing issues are identified during routine dental visits, Cedarwood Dentistry partners with pediatricians and other specialists who can help determine whether a child needs to address some of these issues, for example by having their adenoids removed.
Once molars are fully erupted, a preventative sealant is often placed on the molars to prevent cavities. These sealants pop out on their own during high school or later.
Parent Tip: Taking your child to the dentist every 6 months during the elementary school years helps develop good dental hygiene habits and allows dentists to monitor oral development.
Let Cedarwood Dentistry Care for Your Whole Family
From infancy through adolescence and beyond, the dental care team at Cedarwood Dentistry in Midlothian, Virginia, takes a comprehensive and holistic approach to patient care to ensure patients are comfortable in the dentist chair and confident when they leave. Discover personalized, compassionate dental care today by contacting Cedarwood Dentistry!