Bartlesville Children’s Dentistry Services
We know that Bartlesville parents what what’s best for their kids, and that includes finding the right dentist to keep their smiles whole and healthy for life. Many parents believe that means taking kids to a pediatric dental practice, but that’s not necessarily the right choice for every child. In fact, as long as your little one doesn’t have any advanced concerns during dental development, visiting a family dentist may be a better choice. At Dentistry by Design, our Bartlesville dentists and dentistry team welcome patients of all ages, and we go above and beyond to make caring for the oral health of every member of your family easy. If you’re new to the area or want to learn more about family dentistry, contact us to schedule an appointment. We look forward to helping you and your children with all of your oral health care needs.
Your Child’s First Dental Appointment
The first dental appointment is just a quick visit that allows us to make sure your little one is developing a healthy smile. Around the age of one or after the eruption of the first tooth, you’ll bring your child to visit us. You can hold your little on in your lap throughout this visit. We will gently examine teeth, gums, and oral and facial structures to make sure there are no warning signs of developmental concerns. We can also provide guidance to help you with the care of your child’s developing smile. Once your little one is old enough to better understand what’s happening in our practice, we’ll take the time to let them explore the office on a tour. They can ask us questions and we’ll introduce them to all the dental tools and technologies we use. Our goal is to create a comfortable atmosphere where your child can develop positive associations with their dental care and maintain a healthy smile for life.
Partnering with Us for a Lifetime of Healthy Smiles
Pediatric dentistry offices are great for kids who need advanced treatments during their dental development, but for the majority of young people, sticking with the same dental team at every age is a better option. When kids visit a pediatric dentist, they can either transition into an adult practice around the age of ten or eleven, which can be stressful for them, or they can remain at a pediatric practice into their teens. Neither of these options is really ideal. A family dentist offers a practice atmosphere that is relaxed and comfortable at every age, and by sticking with the same team throughout dental development, your child’s oral health care is completely seamless from start to finish.
Dental Services for Kids
Like adults, children’s smiles are best cared for with regular dental checkups and teeth cleanings every six months in our Bartlesville dentistry practice. In addition to these basic services, we also offer a range of treatments geared towards helping kids achieve and maintain their healthiest smiles, including:
- Dental sealants – clear coatings of protective sealant that create barriers between teeth and decay causing plaque and tartar
- Fluoride therapy – for young patients with weakened tooth enamel and those who are prone to decay, topical fluoride treatments strengthen smiles
- Sportsguards – any young athlete who participates in sports where their smiles may come in contact with other players, hard objects, or athletic equipment should wear a custom sportsguard during games and practices
- Emergency care – kids are often more prone to experience accidents and need urgent care, and our team offers same day emergency dentistry appointments whenever possible
Children’s Dentistry FAQs
At Dentistry by Design, we’re passionate about helping developing smiles grow to be healthy. It’s normal to have some questions about how to best care for your little one’s precious smile, so we’ve gathered a few common questions about children’s dentistry for your convenience. If you don’t see the answers you’re looking for below, don’t hesitate to give us a call and we’ll be happy to give you the information you’re looking for!
Why Is It Important for My Child to See the Dentist at an Early Age?
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children start getting their routine dental checkups by the time they turn one or within six months of their first tooth erupting. Visiting your Bartlesville kids’ dentist so early in your little one’s life offers several important benefits, such as:
- Identifying dental issues or oral development problems as early as possible and addressing them while they’re still small and easy to treat.
- Introducing your son or daughter to the new sights, sounds, and friendly faces of the office in a low-stress setting, which will help them associate positive feelings with dental care.
- Getting them in the habit of visiting their dentist regularly, which will help prevent dental anxiety and encourage them to keep caring for their smile for the rest of their life.
Why Are Baby Teeth Important?
Even though baby teeth will fall out eventually, keeping them healthy and strong plays an essential role in your child’s oral development and quality of life. Baby teeth help your little one:
- Chew comfortably and speak clearly.
- Maintain space in the jaw for permanent teeth.
- Stay healthy (untreated cavities in baby teeth can lead to systemic infections).
- Build confidence.
Will My Child Need Dental X-Rays?
Typically, children should get their first set of dental X-rays taken around the age of two or three to introduce them to the process. Once the baby teeth in the back of their mouth are touching, we’ll generally want to start taking X-rays at least once every year to check for hidden cavities. As their permanent teeth start to come in around the age of six, we’ll take X-rays more often to ensure that their teeth and jaws are healthy and properly aligned.
Should I Be Concerned About My Child’s Thumb Sucking?
Thumb sucking is a natural reflex in children that generally fades away on its own. However, if your son or daughter is still sucking on their thumb or fingers around the age of six, or if they’re sucking aggressively with a lot of jaw movement, this habit can start to influence how their permanent teeth come in and how their mouth grows. Your experienced Bartlesville children’s dentist Dr. Lumpkin has helped countless kids break this habit and would be happy to share effective and trusted methods to help your little one as well.
What Should I Do If My Child Has a Toothache?
First, try having your child floss around the painful tooth and rinse their mouth out with water. If that doesn’t help, or if their pain is intense or long-lasting, give us a call right away. We’ll help you determine how soon your child needs to be seen and schedule your appointment accordingly. We’ll also be able to give you personalized first aid advice to help manage their discomfort until you can reach our office.