Highly-trained Children's Dentist in East Longmeadow

Our pediatric dentists go to two additional years of school to learn how to work with kids and address their specific dental needs. In addition, they will work to make your child and the family comfortable and calm during the appointment, and we’re happy to offer tips on establishing a good oral hygiene routine early for your child.

Our children's dentist in East Longmeadow focuses on dentistry for kids in the younger age ranges, from infants to preschool-aged. We also offer a Family Dental Group with pediatric dentists ready to see your child before they’re a year old.

When Should You Schedule Your Child’s First Dental Appointment?

 Once you see baby teeth coming in, you want to consider scheduling a visit to one of our offices. This is when decay and cavities can start to form and cause problems. Additionally, once your child’s teeth come in side by side, you’ll have to learn how to floss these areas to prevent cavity formation.

Baby bottle decay is a widespread problem for young children who drink sugary liquids from bottles or sippy cups. If milk, juice, formula, or sugary water sits on your child’s teeth, this gives bacteria a place to grow. Sending your child to bed with a bottle or sippy cup is the most significant cause of baby bottle decay, and visiting our staff early can help prevent it.

What Happens During the First Visit to the Children's Dentist?

 Children’s dental care starts with the initial visit, and our staff will examine your kid’s jaw and teeth. While we do the exam, your child can sit in the dental chair alone or on your lap.

Although it’s rare, our staff may suggest x-rays if they believe there is decay they can’t see with the initial exam. We offer a range of services to help address any issues we find, and we provide tips to help keep your kid’s teeth healthy. We may suggest the following:

• Baby Root Canals - Sometimes, cavities get deep enough in the tooth to cause nerve or soft pulp inflammation. A root canal can stop the pain and inflammation and restore the tooth’s strength.
• Dental Sealants - Dental sealants for kids are essential to help prevent food particles and bacteria from sticking on the chewing surface or in the grooves of the teeth and decay. In addition, when we put a sealant on kids’ teeth, this thin plastic barrier helps prevent more significant issues or wear and tear from grinding their teeth.
• Fillings - We can apply fillings in baby teeth after we remove the decayed section to seal the tooth. We offer the choice of tooth-colored or amalgam fillings.
• Fluoride - Applying fluoride to children’s teeth is excellent for helping prevent cavities and decay. Fluoride will bond to the tooth’s enamel and strengthen it, so they hold up to wear and tear without showing signs of stress or decay.
• Mouthguards - If your child plays a sport or does an activity where they could get a sudden blow to the face, like hockey, boxing, gymnastics, or football, the American Dental Association recommends they wear a mouthguard. A children’s mouth guard can prevent damaged, missing, or loose teeth in an accident, and they’re a great way to stop wear and tear from teeth grinding.
• Pediatric Crowns - If your child’s teeth have a large cavity or decayed spot that weakens the tooth, applying baby teeth crowns after cleaning out the decay can help restore the tooth. As a bonus, our office in East Longmeadow offers white crowns for baby teeth that look and feel natural.
• Teeth Cleaning - We offer kids teeth cleaning for babies and toddlers in our office, and these cleaning sessions help ensure we can address problems early. Also, periodic cleaning appointments can help keep your child’s smile healthy.

When do Kids Get Baby Teeth?

 Some babies are born with a tooth or two, but many start teething at four to six months. However, your child may not develop teeth for up to a year.

When do Kids Lose Their Baby Teeth?

Generally, you’ll see your kids losing their baby teeth to make room for their adult teeth around age six. However, it’s common for it to hold off until age seven. Your children's dentist can give you a better estimate at your appointment.

What Causes Kids to Have Toothaches?

 Abscesses, tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth infections are all common reasons your child may have a toothache. Broken and cracked teeth are also common, especially if they’re weak from cavities, and teeth grinding can cause jaw aches or teeth to wear down and hurt.

Get Quality Dentistry for Children at Our Offices in East Longmeadow

We recommend that you book an appointment with one of our professional, friendly staff when your child is young. To find our closest office, search for “children's dentist near me” and click on the most convenient location we offer.