Children’s Dentistry

Did you know that it is recommended that children begin seeing the dentist by age 1? At Boulevard Dental, we are proud to provide early dental care to help children develop a good dental attitude and get into a routine that will ensure healthy teeth throughout their life.

We also know, however, that oftentimes a trip to the dentist is a very scary experience for many children. We work hard to keep a safe and inviting environment, with toys, TVs with Netflix to drown out scary and unfamiliar sounds, and a prize tower to choose from at the end of the visit, to make every visit a positive experience.

Regular and early visits to the dentist to get your child used to the overall experience goes a long way to reducing their fear. Proper dental hygiene and care at home will also help to reduce any unexpected trips to the dentist, such as cavities that require a less than fun dentist trip. 

And while we aim to make sure that every visit is as positive as it can be, there can be occasions where dental treatment may be required. We will use a topical anesthetic to numb the gums which followed by a local anesthetic to reduce the discomfort. If your child has further pain at home a regular children’s Tylenol or other pain relief medication should be more than enough.

From an early age you should aim to teach your child proper brushing and flossing techniques and instill the importance of taking care of your teeth. Young children will often require the help of mom or dad when starting to brush to ensure that their teeth are properly cleaned. For a general reference, once they are able to tie their shoes on their own, the child should then have the motor skills needed to properly brush their teeth.

A big concern that many parents have regarding their children’s teeth is surrounding pacifiers, bottles and thumb sucking. If a child is allowed these devices or to suck their thumbs past a certain age, there is a risk of teeth coming in improperly or causing jaw misalignment. While regular checkups with your dentist will help to monitor your child’s oral development, we also recommend curtailing thumbsucking and weaning off pacifiers and bottles by age three to help with development.