Pediatric Dentistry FAQs

A Pediatric Dentist like Dr. Sarah is a specialist dedicated to the oral health of children and the monitoring of their facial growth and development.

Sycamore Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry are focused on treating kids from infancy through adolescence and patients with special needs.

Children not only have different dentition than adults, but they also have specific dental, developmental, and behavioral needs that are better addressed with a specialist.

As a pediatric dentist, Dr. Sarah has two years of additional training in treating infants, children, adolescents, and special needs patients.

From the very first visit from infancy and throughout adolescence, your child is in the best hands when receiving dental care from a pediatric dentist in order to better serve their specific needs.

It is a common misconception that kids should start seeing the dentist by two or three years of age. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and Dr. Sarah Barysenka recommend that all children should see the dentist by their first birthday.

In order to prevent dental problems, your child should see a pediatric dentist like Dr. Sarah Barysenka to establish their dental home no later than one year old.

It is recommended that your child receives a cleaning and has a dental exam every six months to prevent future decay and other dental problems.

If your child is at higher risk for developing cavities, Dr. Sarah Barysenka may recommend that she see your child be seen every three months so we may closely monitor your child’s oral health.

This is in accordance with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry guidelines, which help establish best practice recommendations.

Teething, the process of baby (primary) teeth coming through the gums into the mouth, is variable among individual babies. The two front lower teeth usually come in around six months old.

This can vary from babies that are born with teeth to those who do not get their first tooth until they are a year old. At three years of age, most little ones have all 20 teeth present.

It’s very important to maintain your child’s oral health and to take care of the baby teeth before they fall out naturally on their own. Neglected cavities hanging around until they fall out can and frequently do lead to detrimental effects on the developing permanent teeth.

While the four front teeth fall out around six to seven years of age, the back teeth (canines and molars) aren’t replaced until your child reaches 10-13 years old!

Baby teeth are important for:

• Promoting good nutrition through proper chewing and eating
• Providing space for the permanent teeth and guiding them into the correct position
• Encouraging normal development of jaw bones and muscles
• Assisting in development of speech
• Building self-esteem by providing a beautiful smile
• Enabling your child to pay attention and learn in school without the distraction of dental pain

As an infant, the gums can be cleaned with a soft wet gauze or washcloth. This should be done after feedings and before bedtime, whether breast or bottle fed. Once the first tooth appears, start brushing those teeth! And yes, you should be using toothpaste with fluoride even at young age when that very first tooth does appear.

There are soft infant toothbrushes that should be used twice a day with a small smear of fluoridated toothpaste, no larger than a grain of rice. As soon as two adjacent teeth appear in the mouth, cavities can form in between the teeth, especially if they are touching. When teeth start to touch, it is important to start flossing at nighttime.

Start brushing twice a day as soon as you see their first tooth!

Help your child to brush until they are at least six years old and then supervise brushing until they can consistently do a great job and clean all areas properly. Here are some tips for brushing and flossing to use at home:

Brushing Tips:

• Brushing your teeth helps prevent cavities by removing plaque. It also stimulates the gums which help to prevent gum disease
• Brush twice a day, once in the morning and once at night
• Replace the toothbrush once the bristles start to wear down or fray (usually between 3-4 months)
• Start caring for your baby’s gums right away. Gently wash them with a damp washcloth after feedings and before bedtime
• Once your child’s teeth erupt, use a small head, soft-bristled brush with fluoridated toothpaste in the amount of a grain of rice
• Ages 3 and over, you can use a pea-size amount of toothpaste with fluoride
• Brush your child’s teeth until they are able to do a thorough job

Flossing Tips:

• Flossing helps remove the dental plaque and food particles in between your teeth where a toothbrush cannot reach
• This should be done at least once a day, and most importantly, before bedtime
• Once your child’s teeth touch, it is time to start flossing. Your child will need your help until they are capable of doing this on their own
• Floss your children’s teeth until they are able to do a thorough job

Use toothpaste with fluoride as soon as the first tooth erupts. Parents should use a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste, about the size of a rice grain, to brush baby teeth twice daily. Use a soft bristled, age-appropriate sized toothbrush.

Once children are three to six years old, increase the amount of toothpaste to a pea-size dollop and perform or assist your child’s toothbrushing.

Remember, young children do not have the ability to brush their teeth effectively. Children should spit out and not swallow excess toothpaste after brushing.

Fluoride is effective at preventing cavities by coating teeth and strengthening their surface, which acts like a coat of armor to fight off harmful bacteria and tooth decay. It can even re-mineralize early cavities, which is usually detected at regular dental checkups.

If this happens, Dr. Sarah may recommend a special fluoride regimen to help fend off those sugar bugs and protect your child’s teeth. Fluoride in our water, toothpastes as well as fluoride treatments will give your child an edge on maintaining their bright smile!

Dental X-rays are considered to be very low risk. Pediatric dentists are especially careful when prescribing dental X-rays to prevent excess radiation when it is not needed.The latest dental X-ray tools and techniques are designed to limit your child’s exposure to radiation and every precaution is always taken to safeguard your child.

If you’re worried about radiation exposure, just know that our digital X-rays give off a very small amount of radiation. For example, two dental bitewings is equivalent to the amount of radiation exposure when traveling on an airplane for 4 hours or a day of background exposure (natural radiation from the sun, soil, rocks, buildings, air and water).

Sealants are an easy and affordable way to prevent future tooth decay in a child’s first and second adult molars. They are sometimes placed on baby teeth if a child is considered to be high risk for developing tooth decay.

Sealants work by filling in the grooves on the biting surfaces of molars and blocking pieces of food and debris from getting stuck. Without a sealant in place, it’s very difficult to remove plaque and food in these areas with a toothbrush, which can eventually cause a cavity.

Thumb sucking and pacifier use will generally only become a problem if they go on for a prolonged period of time, especially after the age of three.

Most children stop these habits on their own, but if they are still using the pacifier or sucking their thumbs or fingers past three years old, we ask that you let us know so we can help address these oral habits.

A well-balanced, healthy diet is good for your child’s body and their smile! Fruits, vegetables, grains, meats and dairy are all good for your child’s oral and overall health. Snacks are okay, but remember that sugary and starchy foods, or food and drinks that are high in acid can be harmful to your child’s teeth.

The frequency of snacking should also be considered. The more frequent your child snacks, the higher risk they are for developing tooth decay. Crunchy fruits and vegetables, low-fat yogurt and cheese are great snack choices for children’s teeth.

Here are some tips for you to take home:

• Offer plain yogurt instead of yogurt with flavor since these are often sweetened with a lot of sugar. Add berries for something sweet and added nutrition
• Save sweets for special occasions
• Hydrate with plain water. Avoid juice, soda, and sports drinks as much as possible
• Limit processed snacks such as crackers, cookies, and pretzels. Chewing processed foods is especially damaging to teeth because of the high sugar content and it ability to stick to teeth so easily!
• Check nutrition labels and keep tabs on the amount of sugar your child is consuming on a daily basis

It is recommended that the child is done using a bottle or sippy cup by age one. Sippy cups should only have water in them.

Parents should take their children to the pediatric dentist every six months, beginning with the eruption of the first tooth. Then, Dr. Sarah can recommend a specific program of brushing, flossing, and other treatments for parents to supervise and teach to their little ones.

These home treatments, when added to regular dental visits and a balanced diet, will help give your child a lifetime of healthy habits.

First, rinse the irritated area with warm salt water and place a cold compress on the face if it is swollen. Give our office a call and come see us as soon as possible.

• The most important thing to do is to remain calm.
• Then find the tooth.
• Hold it by the crown rather than the root and try to reinsert it in the socket.
• If that is not possible, put the tooth in a glass of milk and take your child and the glass immediately to a pediatric dentist.

Sometimes, an adult tooth comes in before your child’s baby tooth falls out. It may come in behind or in front of the baby tooth. Don’t be alarmed – this is a very common occurrence with kids.

Encourage your child to wiggle out the baby tooth on their own. If the adult tooth is halfway in or if the baby tooth is not wiggly at all, contact our office so we can do an exam to determine if your child needs help getting the tooth out.

A space maintainer is used to keep the space needed for a permanent tooth when a baby tooth (usually a molar) is lost early due to decay or injury. Once a baby tooth is lost, the teeth around it can begin to shift and move into the open space.

If a space maintainer is not placed, the newly erupting permanent tooth could grow in the wrong place leading to increased orthodontic treatment, periodontal problems or increased risk of cavities.

It is important to keep the appliance clean and to avoid sticky foods such as gum, taffy or gummy bears. If the space maintainer comes off accidentally, save it and call us for an appointment. Make sure to bring the spacer with you.

When the permanent tooth starts to come in, bring your child in for an evaluation and we can determine if it’s time for the spacer to be removed.

Yes, absolutely! Dr. Sarah Barysenka and our team at Sycamore Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry are trained to take care of children with special needs.

We provide dental care for children with a range of developmental, medical and behavioral challenges, including, but not limited to, anxiety, sensory issues, autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and developmental and speech/language delays.

According to the American Orthodontic Society and Dr. Peter Barysenka, a child should have an orthodontic screening by the age of seven. This screening can identify potential orthodontic issues early and is key in preventing them or creating a treatment plan.

Often early orthodontic intervention at Sycamore Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics can help guide proper jaw development and allow proper room for normal eruption of the permanent teeth. Consider it a necessary checkup for your child’s oral health.

This screening can save your family money, and may help avoid more extensive treatment in the future, such as removing permanent teeth if severe crowding is present.

Just as you would visit potential pediatricians to find that perfect fit to care for your newborn, pediatric dentists are the pediatricians of dentistry.

Dr. Sarah is happy to consult with you prior to the arrival of your newborn and offer you advice on planning for dental care.