Childrens teeth
Child friendly approach
Childrens Dentistry
Your child’s first smile is a magical moment and their first tooth is a momentous occasion in their life.
At West Green Dental we understand that children have unique dental needs, and our highly experienced child friendly dental team is dedicated to providing you and your child a comfortable experience in a relaxed and friendly environmemt.
Good dental hygiene for children
A lifetime of good dental health starts in infancy. That’s why we believe in prevention and early intervention. It is important to form good habits and positive experiences at an early age. Therefore prevention of dental problems is our main focus.
We understand that children may feel apprehensive about visiting the dentist, that’s why all of our team provide a welcoming and caring experience for all children visiting the practice. As a result, at their check-up appointment your child or children will feel more at ease and familiar with the dental environment. We believe in establishing a personal bond with every family and child in our practice and welcoming them to our practice family. We aim to make them understand the concepts of oral health and the prevention of dental disease. With regular check ups our dentists can provide advice and treatment that can help your child keep healthy teeth for life.
Our promise to help look after your children's teeth
- We promise to listen to your children’s concerns and involve them in the discussion
- We will provide the best possible NHS Children’s dentistry and ensure that your children are always as comfortable as possible.
- We provide fluoride applications as per Department of Health guidance, fissure sealants to prevent dental decay as well as children’s fillings, extractions, and sports mouth guards when needed. We are also able to refer our very young or nervous patients to a children’s dentistry specialist for further treatment under sedation or general anaesthetic when deemed necessary to secure good oral health.
- We will encourage your children to look after their teeth so they keep their teeth for life by offering comprehensive oral hygiene instruction and dietary advice.
- We recommend regular dental check ups as per NICE guidance which are critical because your child’s mouth changes as they grow.
How to look after your children's teeth
Brushing and flossing help remove harmful plaque bacteria. A child-size brush with soft, rounded or polished bristles is recommended. Check your child’s toothbrush often and replace it when it is worn. Bent or frayed bristles will not remove plaque effectively and may injure gums. Begin daily brushing as soon as the child’s first tooth erupts. A pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste can be used after the child is old enough not to swallow it. By age 4 or 5, children should be able to brush their own teeth twice a day with supervision until about age seven to make sure they are doing a thorough job. However, each child is different. Proper brushing removes plaque from the inner, outer and chewing surfaces. When teaching how to brush, you may wish to stand behind the child and hold the brush to be certain that brushing is done properly. Flossing removes plaque between the teeth where a toothbrush can’t reach. Flossing should begin when any two teeth touch.
The best way to ensure your children keep their teeth clean is to build it in to their daily routine. If you find you need to assist them, gently cradle their chin, whilst standing behind them is a great way to reach the top and bottom teeth in their mouth.
We recommend that you supervise your children brushing their teeth until they are around 7 years old. Encouraging your children to brush twice a day will certainly help them in later life in maintaining a healthy, happy smile.
Childrens Orthodontics
Ensuring your children receive an early orthodontic examination is the best way to ensure they have a healthy, straight smile later in life. At West Green Dental, our specialists recommend that an initial consultation for children’s orthodontics should occur by age 7. However, you should have your child’s teeth evaluated as soon as possible if there are some signs of orthodontic problems.
At an early age, orthodontic treatment may not be necessary for your child. However, careful examination can anticipate the best time to begin treatment.
At early ages, there are some common signs of orthodontic problems to look out for in your child’s teeth. For example, you can monitor whether their baby teeth are lost early or late: typically your child would lose baby teeth at around age 5 and have adult teeth by age 13. Other common problems to look out for include mouth-breathing, difficulty chewing, protruding teeth and thumb-sucking after age 5. Continual thumb sucking can cause your child’s upper teeth to begin to protrude outwards.
Planning your children’s orthodontics early can save you and your child a lot of hassle later. This is because Orthodontic procedures for adults often take more time and can involve tooth extraction or oral surgery. Receiving early children’s orthodontics can ensure your child prevents the need for orthodontics as an adult.