Valley Pediatric Dentistry
Valley Pediatric Dentistry
The Age One Dental Visit: Time is Critical
(This article is a reprint from Jamie Imperati’s Parenting Unplugged Column from the Putnam Examiner)
Time is critical is right. This is one topic that is hitting home for me and my family lately and I had to share it with you. I have been taking my boys to the dentist (Dr. Ben that is) since they are 1 years old. My Thomas is a pleasure, he sits gets his teeth cleaned and we leave the office happy. AJ on the other hand, well, that’s another story.
Since his first dental visit I was told that he had deep grooves in his teeth and I had to be very diligent about brushing his teeth. I am sure I am not the only one who has to struggle with my child to give them a good brushing, and if you go through what I do then I am sure you can relate. Anyway, long story short, now at age 3 my AJ has a few cavities and needs some work done and there is no one else I would trust with his teeth other than Dr. Ben Dancygier of Valley Pediatric Dentistry.
I have asked Dr. Ben to help me out and co-write this article with me so hopefully you will become more educated and diligent about brushing your children’s teeth . So, here is what Dr. Ben and Dr. Jennifer Blair have to say……
It is 7pm, the children have eaten dinner and now it is time to prepare for bed. You round up the kids and shuttle them into the bathroom to perform the nightly routine of tooth brushing. You hand the children their Dora and Spongebob crafted toothbrushes and they begin brushing. They are smiling while you play their favorite song to keep them entertained during this process. You bend down to help your youngest and see a small dark shadow between their front teeth. You think, “Is that a cavity? They are only three!?”
Tooth decay (caries) is the single most common chronic childhood disease-5
times more common than asthma, 4 times more common than early childhood
obesity, and 20 times more common than diabetes. According to recent data from the CDC – National Center for Health Statistics, the prevalence of primary tooth caries has increased among 2-5 year olds from 24% in 1988-1994 to 28% from1999-2004. Caries in primary teeth puts your child at risk for caries in their permanent teeth. So, why wait until it is too late?
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) encourages parents and other care providers to establish a dental home no later than 12 months of age, but preferably when the first tooth erupts. Establishing a dental home early provides time-critical opportunities to implement preventative health practices and reduce a child’s risk of preventable dental and oral disease. As stated by Dr. John Rutkauskas, Executive Director, AAPD: “By establishing a dental home and taking preventative steps recommended by the pediatric dentist, parents can avoid their children contracting early childhood caries – which is extensive devastating tooth decay that results in pain, failure to thrive, and in many cases, extensive and costly restorative work.” Early childhood caries can affect speech and communication, eating and dietary nutrition, sleeping, learning, playing and quality of life, even into adulthood. In 1996, U.S. schoolchildren missed 1.6 million days of school as a result of acute dental conditions.
The “age one dental visit” includes an examination, cleaning (i.e. prophylaxis), fluoride education, diet analysis, home care instructions, anticipatory guidance about growth and development issues (i.e. teething, digit habits or pacifier habits, etc.), and risk assessment for the development of caries based on all of the above, including family history.
“But my child is not going to sit for an exam,” you say. As pediatric dental professionals we are trained to provide care to infants, children, and adolescents in a safe and welcoming environment. We care about your children and their future; and we strive to contribute to the mission of the AAPD for a disease-free population.
Sure we’ve got a great office with lots of toys for the kids, but our greatest feature is our team! Our team does more than work on smiles-they help form lasting and trusting relationships with children and parents alike. Our staff loves kids; that’s why they have chosen to work here. Because we are pediatric specialists, we make children feel special. We know that children are not all alike, with each one growing in his or her own unique way dentally and emotionally. Our focus is not only directed towards your child but towards parents as well. Making our parents feel comfortable and confident about their child’s care is our priority. Learn more about Dr. Ben and the staff of Valley Pediatric Dentistry at www.drbendds.com. They are located at 3630 Hill Boulevard, Suite 401 Jefferson Valley , NY (914-245-7100).
