First year milestone:
by Eli C. Schneider, D.M.D.

Most parents think of the dentist as a repairman. If their child has tooth decay or suffers a traumatic injury, they call their dentist to repair the damage.

Pediatric dentists are much more than "Dr. Fix It". They can help prevent your child from getting dental decay or even injuries. They can also help avoid or decrease the severity of later orthodontic problems. They can help keep your child's smile straight and cavity free.

Your child's first birthday is the time to start thinking about pediatric dentistry as a prevention resource.

Brirg your child in to see the pediatric dentist before any problems have had a chance to develop. This will not be a dental visit like the ones you are used to. Your one year old will, of course, not be expected to sit in the dental chair and have her teeth cleaned and fluoride applied. Instead, the pediatric dentist will ask you a few questions about your child's development, medical history and her nursing and eating habits. He will have your child lie down on your lap for a brief exam -- perhaps giving her a stuffed animal to hold to momentarily divert her attention. The pediatric dentist realizes that at age one, your child doesn't yet have very many teeth or very much patience, so the exam will be mercifully short.

With information the pediatric dentist has gathered, he is then able to undertake the most important part of this first visit -- counseling you, the parent. He will demonstrate the best way to brush your child's teeth and the best time to do it. He will consult on your child's diet -- not just about what foods to avoid , but also about the importance of when certain foods are eaten, the effect their consistency can have on your child's teeth and even the order in which they're eaten.

The pediatric dentist will also make sure your child's water or vitamin supplements provide the appropriate amount of fluoride. The appropriate dose varies, depending on the child's age, water intake and where you live. Thumb and pacifier habits will be discussed. The pediatric dentist will advise you which habits are age appropriate and which aren't and will offer helpful advice on how and when to deal with harmful habits before they lead to orthodontic problems.

Nursing bottles containing milk or juice are often used by parents as pacifiers. When a young child falls off to sleep with such a bedtime bottle, severe dental decay can result -- most commonly when the child is only 1 or 2 years old. This decay frequently leads to abscess and infection necessitating hospitalization, general anesthesia and multiple extractions and fillings. The pediatric dentist will counsel you about any bedtime or naptime bottle your child may be taking to prevent these all too common consequences.

The most frequent sentiment expressed by parents of young children with serious decay or bite problems who are undergoing extensive dental treatment is regret that nobody gave them preventive information earlier. A visit to the pediatric dentist at age 1 will give you the information you need to avoid many of these problems. It could well turn out to be your child's single most important dental visit of her lifetime -- possibly saving you and your child many less pleasant dental visits later.