No matter your age, great oral health habits are necessary for dental and overall well-being. Our Silver Spring dentist office offers a full range of dental services for patients of all ages. Everyone who visits our dentist in Silver Spring, MD receives excellent dental care.
We believe that great oral health habits start young. We recommend that parents and caregivers bring children to the dentist as soon as the primary teeth begin to erupt. Pediatric dentistry is a general dentistry service Dr. Rever provides to Silver Spring, Maryland.
Just like adults, children should visit the dentist twice yearly. Due to your child’s rapidly growing teeth and gums, checking for abnormalities and cavities and learning proper oral hygiene habits are important.
Dr. Rever will monitor your child’s tooth development to ensure a healthy bite as they grow. If needed, we offer comprehensive orthodontic care to address any concerns affecting your child’s growing smile and bite function.
There are a variety of dental treatments that will help restore your child’s teeth in case of damage, decay, or any other dental issue. Dr. Rever properly explains his plan of treatment to parents to alleviate any dental concerns or dental anxiety. Our Silver Spring dentist office provides a range of services to achieve top oral health.
Pediatric Dental Services in Silver Spring, MD
- Root Canal Treatment
- Bonding
- Dental cleaning and Fluoride Application
- Sedation Dentistry
- Routine Preventative Exams
- X-rays
- Topical Fluoride
- Dental Sealants
When you and your child are comfortably seated in the office, a gentle examination of your child’s mouth will be performed. We will uncover any early signs of dental problems, such as tooth decay, and assess the risk of your child developing gum disease in the future.
Often, this kind of risk assessment can help prevent — and even reverse — the early stages of tooth decay without the need for a dental filling. Establish your child’s dental home at Advanced Total Dental Care. We are committed to every patient’s long-term oral health. A dentist who can see the whole family is important to busy families.
Preventing Childhood Tooth Decay
Many people are unaware that tooth decay can affect small children and even babies. However, Dr. Rever is a highly trained dentist who can properly treat your child’s oral health needs in a relaxed, safe, and comfortable environment. A child’s first dental visit can be a little scary, but we work hard to ensure their first visit is pleasant and informative.
Their initial appointment will discuss various ways to maintain your child’s oral health for the long run. This may include how diet, eating habits, and oral hygiene practices can help prevent tooth decay, the most common chronic disease of childhood.
A full review and explanation will be given before we recommend any treatments, such as fluoride, dental sealants, and more. Tips on cleaning and brushing effectively will be reviewed, and a follow-up visit will be scheduled as required.
Pediatric Dentistry FAQs
Read answers to common questions about pediatric dentistry in Silver Spring, MD:
How early is too early to visit the dentist?
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that a child goes to the dentist by age 1, or within six months after the first tooth erupts. We agree with that standard and recommend that you bring your child in for their first dental visit as soon as you can see their first teeth.
Can my child get dental sedation?
Yes, children can benefit from dental sedation options. We are a certified dentist office and can provide dental sedation for patients of any age. Your child will be closely monitored, and you can stay with them throughout the entire treatment.
What do I do if my child has a toothache?
If your child has a toothache, first rinse their mouth with warm salt water. This can help clean the area and reduce any swelling or discomfort. You can give your child over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil). Make sure you follow the instructions on the bottle based on your child’s age and weight.
If their face is swollen, you can apply a cold compress or ice wrapped in a cloth to the outside of the cheek near the sore area. This can help reduce pain and swelling.
Schedule a dental appointment as soon as possible. Toothaches can be caused by cavities, gum infections, or other problems that we can help fix.
Why should X-rays be taken if my child has never had a cavity?
Many parts of a tooth and its supporting structures are hidden. We use your child’s first X-rays as a baseline to predict future oral health issues. Most X-rays are prescribed to identify or rule out, cavities that can develop between teeth.
Other X-rays are recommended to ensure normal growth and development of forming teeth and supporting bone structures. We use all available tools to understand a child’s oral health, especially at your child’s first dental visit.
Can thumb-sucking affect my child’s teeth?
Yes, thumb-sucking can affect your child’s teeth, especially if they continue the habit for too long. When children suck their thumbs, it can push their teeth out of place, leading to problems with the alignment of their teeth and jaws. This can result in issues like an open bite (where the front teeth don’t meet) or other problems with how the teeth come together.
Most children stop thumb-sucking on their own by age 3 to 4, but if the habit continues beyond that, talk to our dentist. He can recommend ways to help your child break the habit.
What are fluoride treatments for children?
Fluoride treatments for children are a simple and safe way to help strengthen their teeth and prevent cavities. Fluoride is a natural mineral that protects tooth enamel, which is the outer layer of the teeth, from decay.
During a fluoride treatment, the dentist applies a concentrated fluoride solution directly to your child’s teeth. It may come in the form of a gel, foam, or varnish. The treatment is quick and painless, taking just a few minutes during a regular dental visit.
Fluoride treatments are especially helpful for children because their teeth are still developing and need extra protection against cavities.
What are dental sealants?
Dental sealants are a protective coating we apply to the chewing surfaces of your child’s back teeth (molars). These teeth have small grooves that can trap food and bacteria, which can lead to cavities. Sealants cover those grooves to make the surface smoother and easier to clean.
Sealants are usually made of a special plastic material and are painted directly onto the teeth. The dentist or hygienist applies them in just a few minutes, and the process is quick and painless. Sealants can last several years, but we will check them during regular dental visits to ensure they are still in good shape.
At what age should my child get dental sealants?
The best time for your child to get dental sealants is when their permanent molars (the big back teeth) grow. This typically happens between the ages of 6 and 12. These teeth are most at risk for cavities because they have deep grooves that can trap food and bacteria. Our dentist will help decide the right time based on your child’s dental health and when the molars grow.
Schedule A Pediatric Dental Visit
Dr. Rever and his caring staff look forward to helping pediatric dental patients learn about the benefits of maintaining a beautiful, strong, healthy smile. To schedule an appointment for your child at Advanced Total Dental Care in Silver Spring, contact us at (301) 637-0960 or request an appointment online.