Pediatric Dentistry
While Dr. Baugh is specifically a general/family dentist, seeing children is one of her greatest joys of her profession. Therefore, we enjoy having children as part of our dental family and love watching their growth and development throughout the years. There is a special children’s play area in our waiting room where your little ones can play or watch cartoons while waiting to be seen by Dr. Baugh. Every effort will be made to insure your child's dental visit is a positive experience.
Discussion Topics
- Oral hygiene practices for your child's teeth and gums
- Cavity prevention
- Fluoride needs
- Oral habits (thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, lip sucking)
- Developmental milestones
- Teething
- Proper nutrition and diet
Initial Visit
Your child’s primary teeth (baby teeth) are just as important as their permanent teeth. Not only do primary teeth aid with speaking and eating, they hold space in the jaw for the permanent teeth to erupt. Around the age of six months, your baby’s primary teeth should begin to appear. The ADA recommends a dental visit by the age of 1 or within 6 months after his or her first tooth comes in.
Your child’s first visit will take approximately 20 minutes, and usually involves very little treatment. This appointment gives your child an opportunity to meet Dr. Baugh in a non-threatening and friendly way. If your child does not want to sit in the dental chair alone, then we may require you to sit in the dental chair with them for the examination. This will aid in calming any fears they may be experiencing.
Dr. Baugh will check your child's teeth for decay, examine their bite, and look for any potential problems with the gums, jaw, and oral tissues. Dr. Baugh will also clean and polish your child’s teeth. A fluoride treatment may be applied to their teeth to help prevent tooth decay. Dr. Baugh will also answer any question you have pertaining to your child’s oral health.
Routine Visits
Your child should be seen at our office every six months. This will allow Dr. Baugh to build up your child’s comfort and confidence level. X-rays may be recommended to check for decay and evaluate the developmental progress of your child's permanent teeth under the gums. Regular visits also help Dr. Baugh monitor the development of primary teeth, while allowing her to treat any minor problems before they become big problems.
Once your child’s permanent teeth have fully erupted, braces may be needed to help straighten your child’s teeth. If needed, Dr. Baugh will talk to you about an orthodontic consultation. When your child is ready for orthodontic placement, Dr. Patel is an amazing orthodontist that comes to our office regularly. We partnered with him so that your child will be able to get orthodontic treatment and general dental services within the same facility.