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

Weston’s Top Kids Dentist Offer Tips on Your Child’s 1st Visit

Tips on Your Child’s 1st Dental Visit From Weston’s Top Kids Dentist

"Getting it right" starts with a kid's parents. The world of a small child revolves around the home because that's where mom and dad live, that's where he or she feels safe, and that's where they know they can satisfy their basic needs for food, attention and love. Small kids trust their parents and usually try to emulate them.

Take it from a Weston Dentist with nearly 30 years of experience providing dental care for kids; your child's first dental visit is an important event that will influence her or his oral health for the rest of their lives. Getting it right the first time is far easier than trying to correct any negative perception a child might develop about a "trip to the dentist."

It's important to use that trust to prep a child for their first experience at the dental office.

The Role of the Parent and the Role of the Dentist

The primary responsibility for having a successful first visit belongs to the dentist. He or she needs to provide the parents with the information needed to prepare the child in a way that helps to eliminate the anxiety that children feel with any new experience. At our Weston dental office I often recommend:

• Make a game out of counting teeth. Start this at least 6 months before the exam. You count the child's teeth with your fingers and then let the child count yours. Do this on a fairly regular basis to get the child accustomed to having fingers in their mouth touching teeth.
• When it's time for the parent to have an exam, tell the child that the dentist is going to "count" the parent's teeth to make sure they are safe and healthy. Take the child on the appointment and introduce him or her to the staff and the dentist. This visit becomes the child's "first experience" with the dentist and it is a positive one. When it's time for the child to get their own exam they will be going to have their teeth counted just like mom and dad do.
• The dentist will do little more than a quick exam of the child's teeth and gums. The idea of this first "real" visit s to build trust. A good pediatric dentist understands that at this stage psychology is just as important as any treatment.

Starting out correctly puts a positive spin on oral health and that's exceptionally important in building good oral hygiene habits that will follow them the rest of their lives.

If you have a toddler ready for a dental exam, call our dental office in Weston and speak with a friendly technician on how to start preparing your kid for their first dentist visit.

This blog post was originally published here: http://firstwestondentist.com/dr-pyles-blog

Weston’s First Family Dentist Explains the Importance of Back To School Check-ups

The Importance of Back To School Check-ups From Weston’s First Family Dentist

Guess who's going back to school in a couple of weeks?

Can you recall your dental health experiences from back in grade school? Can you remember a time when you had a cavity that hurt so bad you couldn't keep your mind on the class? You didn't want to tell your parents because that meant a trip to the dentist and in your 8 year old mind that was the same as a trip to a torture chamber.

Family dentist Stephen J. Pyle, "Weston's first dentist" wants to remind you that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 19% of kids age 3 to 12 have undiagnosed tooth decay.

Child dentistry has changed significantly since you carried a lunchbox to school. Today's technology and techniques are far more comfortable and the preventive care methods can make cavities a rare event. If you want to prevent your child from reliving your experience, we suggest you do the following:

• If your child is going to participate in any contact sports, this may be the time to have him or her fitted with a custom sports guard. Even if all their permanent teeth have not come in, a sports guard will protect their gums and the permanent teeth that have arrived.
• Some small children will benefit with time spent with Dr. Pyle educating them about oral health in a language and method that kids understand.
• Begin a tradition in your family and schedule your children for a back to school dental exam at our Weston dental office to deal with any issues before they head off to class.
• Our dental exam will seem like something out of Star Trek compared to your experience in grade school. We use digital x-rays, advanced sealants, Carifree cavity prevention and provide orthodontic evaluations.

Pick up the phone now and make an appointment at our Weston dental practice for your kids' back to school dental exam. Believe it or not, at some point in their lives your kids will thank you.

Kids dentistry Weston : Child dentistry : Dental Office

Kids Dentistry Weston – Getting Your Kid Ready for that First Visit

Kids' dentistry can be a challenge for parents particularly that impression forming first dental exam. It's almost as much about child psychology as it is about dental health. At our Weston dentist office we have a method to handle kids as young as 3 years old but we need the parent's assistance to get the most out of it.

How you prepare your child for their first visit goes a long way in determining if the child will continue dental care later in life. Our suggestion is that you schedule an appointment for yourself and bring your child with you. Make a big deal out of having good looking teeth. When the child arrives s/he will find friendly people who make them feel comfortable and offer games, TV and blankets while you have your appointment.

When it's time for that first exam, (their turn at the dentist just like Mommy or Daddy) explain that the dentist is going to "count their teeth" and use a tooth brush to touch each tooth and count them off.

Kid's Dentistry – The Start of a Lifetime Health Habit

Making that first exam an easy experience creates the mindset for later visits. Dr. Pyle is exceptionally experienced with kids in dentist chairs but he will be a stranger the first time.

If you have a question regarding how to best prepare your kid, Dr. Pyle will take the time to explain the best strategies and give you a crash course in child oral health. Read More:

Kids Weston : Child Dentistry : Dental Office

Kids Dentistry Weston – That All Important First Visit

Kids' dentistry is as much about child psychology as it is about the health of their teeth. At our Weston dental practice we treat kids from age 3 and up and we have developed a system and environment that can take the fear out of a trip to the dentist office but it requires your assistance in order for it to be totally effective.

That first visit to the dentist can have a lasting impression about dental visits and dental care. If it is at all possible we recommend that you take your child with you when it's time for your dental appointment. This gives the child an opportunity to visit the office, meet the nice people, play with the games we have for children, gaze at the aquarium and in general form a favorable, non-threatening opinion of the nice people at Dr. Pyle's office. If you can do this a couple of times before your child's first exam it will less stressful when it's the child's turn.

Starting a Health Habit of a Lifetime

We've been treating kids age 3 and up for over a quarter century. Our child dentistry services include regular checkups, cleanings, sealants, fillings, Carifree cavity prevention, sports guards, orthodontic evaluations and digital X-rays. We use laser guided dentistry which can reduce the need for anesthesia and make the experience less stressful for the child.

If you have any questions just give us a call at our Weston dental office and we will be happy to help. Read more: