Dental Surgery is Up for Toddlers Here are 4 Things Weston Parents Can Do

Cavities are Up Among Preschoolers Here Are 4 Things Parents Can Do to Avoid Surgery

According to the Centers for Disease Control U.S. preschoolers have seen the first increase in cavities in over 40 years. Dentists are finding toddlers with sometimes 5-10 cavities. This increase has taken place in poor, middle class and wealthily families a like.  No one wants to put their child under general anesthesia but it is routinely done these days for small kids with major dental issues. Depending on your insurance and the procedures required dental restoration for a child can range from $2,000 to $5,000 or more.

What’s the reason for the increase in cavities among small children?

1. Not visiting the dentist
2. Not brushing
3. Bedtime snacking and drinking juice or sugary beverages
4. Lack of fluoride

What can parents do to avoid surgery?

1. Take kids to the dentist by age 1. Because they have so few teeth many parents don’t realize that kids need to start regular dental visits by age 1. Among other things the dentist can assess them for future cavity risk and suggest an oral hygiene program early on.
2. Make them brush. Some toddlers get upset and throw tantrums or melt-downs over tooth-brushing. Hold firm. Remember if you they are crying now using a soft toothbrush imagine what it will be like to take a 3 year old in for a drilling.
3. Limit Sugary Drinks & Snacks. Cut down on snacking especially before bedtime and when they do snack be sure they brush afterward. Limit juice to less than four ounces day and avoid soft drinks like soda and sports drinks.
4. Fluoride. Serve your child fluorinated tap water or talk to your dentist about fluoride supplements.

If you would like more information or schedule an appointment for your child, please give us a call today at (954) 894-7953.

This post originally appeared here: http://firstwestondentist.com/dr-pyles-blog/weston-pediatric-dentist-avoid-surgery

Tips for Choosing a Weston Pediatric Dentist

What to Look for in a Pediatric Dentist Weston’s Top Family Dentist Explains

Finding a good kid dentist who has both the training to care for your child's teeth and that your kid trusts and likes can be a hit and miss exercise unless you know what to look for. Weston pediatric dentist Stephen J. Pyle DDS has been treating kids for over a quarter century and offers some important tips for parents looking for a child dentist and who are new to the Weston/Davie area or who have a child ready for their first trip to the dentist.

How to Choose a Pediatric Dentist

One thing to keep in mind when searching for a kid dentist is geographic location is not always a limiter. Dr. Pyle has parents bringing their children to his Weston dental office from as far away as Fort Lauderdale. They find the extra drive time a small price to pay to have children who don't have anxiety over a trip to Dr. Pyle's place.

So here is where you want to start in your search for a pediatric dentist:

• Ask your pediatrician for referrals
• Ask your friends and co-workers who they take their kids to and, just as important, who have they tried and left
• Once you have found prospective dentists find out what their training is and how long they have been treating children
• Call the dental office or visit the dentist's website to see what services the dentist provides children
• Determine what dental technology the dentist uses i.e. digital x-ray, laser assisted treatment, preventive care
• Does the dentist treat toddlers to teens
• Is the dentist available for emergency dental care of kids

Of course nothing beats a trip to the dental office for a face to face with the dental staff and the dentist. If the office is all institutional décor and the staff appear to be all business, that's a reflection of how the dentist runs his or her practice and that may not be the best environment to bring a kid into. That's not to say the dentist is a bad dentist, that office may be the perfect solution for a busy adult patient whose schedule is just as tight as any health care provider but if you are put off imagine how your kid will react.

Child psychology is an important element in pediatric health care of any kind. You want a dentist with a friendly staff that welcomes children and a dentist who makes the visit a relaxed and fun experience.

At Dr. Pyle's practice that's the kind of office we run. If you would like more information or schedule an appointment for your child, please give us a call today to speak to our friendly staff.