Frequently asked questions

A Pediatric Dentist is a specialist dedicated to the oral health of children and the monitoring of their facial growth and development. Tooth Booth Pediatric Dentistry is designed for treating children from infancy through adolescence, as well as the medically and physically compromised children.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that a child’s first visit to the dentist should occur by 12 months of age. This first visit will enable Dr. Tom Lam to evaluate your child and introduce you to proper oral hygiene. Diet, fluoride, finger and pacifier habits and tooth eruption will be discussed to insure optimal oral health.

Primary teeth have been labeled “baby teeth”. However, the first tooth usually isn’t lost until 6 years of age and some primary molars must function until 12 or 13 years of age before they are replaced. Primary teeth are necessary for proper chewing, proper speech, the proper development of the jaws and for esthetics. Care of the primary teeth is important not only for proper function, but also to avoid a number of unpleasant conditions that result from their neglect.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry advises:

• Brush with a fluoride toothpaste twice a day.
• Floss children’s teeth once a day.
• Visit your pediatric or general dentist regularly.
• Get enough fluoride through drinking water, fluoride products and, when indicated, through fluoride supplements.
• Have sealants applied to the chewing surfaces of permanent back teeth or molars soon after they come in.
• Snack moderately—no more than twice a day.

Though a balanced diet is certainly important in preventing cavities, experts agree that cavities are not only the result of what children eat, but also, how often they eat. Frequent snacking without brushing leaves food on the teeth longer and fosters tooth decay.

The chewing surface of children’s teeth are the most susceptible to cavities and least benefited from fluorides. Sealants are adhesive coatings that are applied to the tops of teeth and can be highly effective in preventing tooth decay. Studies show that 4 out of 5 cavities in children under age 15 develop on the biting surface of back molars. Molars commonly decay because plaque accumulates in the tiny grooves of the chewing surfaces. Sealants prevent the cavities that fluoride cannot effectively reach. As a preventive mechanism, sealants are an important part of a cavity-free generation.

Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) is breathed by your child with oxygen during the restorative appointment. It is used to relax a mildly anxious child.

They are used when a baby tooth has been prematurely lost to hold space for the permanent tooth. If space is not maintained, teeth on either side of the extraction site can drift into the space and prevent the permanent tooth from erupting.

Here at Tooth Booth, we believe that every visit is important to ensure all of our patients are comfortable. In doing so, we always welcome the presence of a parent or legal guardian to accompany the patient in rooms at all times.