Childrens Dentistry in Greenville SC

Your child’s first visit

The first dental visit should be just after your child’s first tooth. The first dental visit is usually short and involves very little treatment. The first visit is more for the parents, and educating the parents or guardians the importance of brushing, flossing, and diet at home to maintain healthy primary/baby teeth.

We may ask you to sit in the chair and hold your child facing you and do a Lap to Lap exam, so your child sees you while being examined and you the parents can see what’s going on in the child’s mouth. When the child is older, you may also be asked to wait in the reception area during part of the visit so that a relationship can be built between your child and your dentist.

We will gently examine your child’s teeth and gums. X-rays may be taken (to reveal decay and check on the progress of your child’s permanent teeth under the gums). We will clean your child’s teeth and apply topical fluoride varnish to help protect the teeth against decay. Most important of all, we will review with you how to clean and care for your child’s teeth.

What Should I Tell My Child About Their First Dental Visit?

We are asked this question many times. We suggest you prepare your child the same way you would before their first haircut or trip to the shoe store. Your child’s reaction to his first visit to the dentist may surprise you.

Here Are Some “First Visit” Tips:

  • Take your child for a “preview” of the office.
  • Read books with them about going to the dentist.
  • Review with them what the dentist will be doing at the time of the first visit.
  • Speak positively about your own dental experiences.

During your first visit the dentist will:

  • Examine your mouth, teeth and gums.
  • Brush and floss your teeth
  • Place fluoride to help protect your teeth against decay/cavities
  • Evaluate adverse habits like thumb sucking.
  • Teach you about cleaning your teeth and gums.
  • Suggest a schedule for regular dental visits.
Gentle, Effective Dentistry Can Improve Your Smile

Trust your care to Dr. Pham, who practices dentistry with patience and understanding.

864-546-5393 Book an Appointment

About preventative care

Tooth decay and children no longer have to go hand in hand. At our office we are most concerned with all aspects of preventive care. We use the latest in dental sealant technology to protect your child’s teeth. Dental sealants are space-age plastics that are bonded to the chewing surfaces of decay-prone back teeth. This is just one of the ways we will set the foundation for your child’s lifetime of good oral health.

Cavity Prevention

Most of the time cavities are due to a combination of frequent snacking , diet high in sugary foods or drinks, and a lack of brushing and flossing daily especially at night. Limiting sugar intake and brushing regularly, of course, can help. The longer it takes your child to chew their food and the longer the residue stays on their teeth, the greater the chances of getting cavities.

Every time someone eats, an acid reaction occurs inside their mouth as the bacteria digests the sugars. This reaction lasts approximately 20 minutes. During this time the acid environment can destroy the tooth structure, eventually leading to cavities. Frequent snacking or drinks with sugars prolong the acidic environment breaking down the tooth structure further leading to cavities faster.

Consistency of a person’s saliva also makes a difference; thinner saliva breaks up and washes away food more quickly. When a person eats diets high in carbohydrates and sugars they tend to have thicker saliva, which in turn allows more of the acid-producing bacteria that can cause cavities.

Tips for Cavity Prevention

  • Limit frequency of meals and snacks.
  • Encourage brushing, flossing and rinsing.
  • Watch what your child drinks.
  • Avoid giving your child sticky foods.
  • Make treats part of meals.
  • Choose nutritious snacks.

Baby Teeth

The first baby teeth that come into the mouth are the two bottom front teeth. You will notice this when your baby is about 6–8 months old. Next to follow will be the 4 upper front teeth and the remainder of your baby’s teeth will appear periodically. They will usually appear in pairs along the sides of the jaw until the child is about 2½ years old.

At around 2½ to 3 years old your child should have all 20 teeth. Between the ages of 5 and 6 the first permanent teeth will begin to erupt. Some of the permanent teeth replace baby teeth and some don’t. Don’t worry if some teeth are a few months early or late as all children are different.

Baby teeth are important as they not only hold space for permanent teeth but they are important to chewing, biting, speech and appearance. For this reason it is important to maintain a healthy diet and daily hygiene.

Contact Us for Comfortable, Effective Smile Protection

A beautiful smile starts with consistent, high-quality dental care. Dr. Pham and our experienced dental team can help by making your regular dental appointments easy. Don't hesitate to reach out to us to learn more or to schedule your appointment.

864-546-5393 Book an Appointment