Palos Pediatric Dentistry Grand Opening!
It is hard to believe that the grand opening of our Palos office is happening in one week! We have been busy preparing and ordering all of the supplies, instruments, uniforms, and kid prizes, but we are most excited this week about the launch of our new website! Please take a moment to check it out. Our goal by providing a website is to give you some background information about our philosophy at Palos Pediatric Dentistry, as well as to help answer any questions you may have prior to your first visit.
Caring for Your Infant's Oral Health
As a parent of young children, I often get asked the question: “At what age is it appropriate to take my child to the dentist?” The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that your child sees a dentist by their first birthday. There are several reasons for such an early visit:
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Dietary habits are established within the first 12 months. At a one-year-old visit, we will review your child's current feeding practices, and provide information about establishing healthy dietary habits that are good for both the teeth and overall health.
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Oral hygiene, specifically tooth brushing, should begin after the eruption of the first tooth. Before then, wiping the gums daily with a wet washcloth is appropriate. We will help to provide tips and tricks for cleaning your toddler's teeth, as well as give advice about the types of toothpaste and toothbrushes available.
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Early visits give your child an opportunity to gain familiarity with our office and staff. After a few happy visits your child should be comfortable in the dental setting and should have reduced anxiety about the dentist as he gets older.
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Young children are constantly growing and changing. We will help provide insight about your child's growth and what to expect in the near future. This can include trauma prevention tips, what to do if your child falls or hurts her teeth, teething, tooth eruption patterns, and a variety of other topics. Knowing what to expect in the future can help to reduce your anxiety and concern as your child develops.
You can find answers to other frequently asked questions under our “FAQ” section on the homepage.
Our In-House Child Expert
My two year old daughter Lexie would tell you to come because of the cool prizes and vanilla and chocolate flavored toothpaste we have available. She thinks that mint toothpaste is too “spicy” for kids.
She has been our expert child consultant throughout this process, as she has sampled the toothpaste and circled the “prizes” from the catalog that she feels that the kids would most enjoy. Some of her favorites include: strawberry chap-stick, bouncy balls, and zebra rubber duckies. It is nice to have an expert available 24/7. We may need to create an additional website tab for her titled “ask a toddler”.
Thank you for taking the time to stop by and we look forward to meeting you and your family!
