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FAQ
 
Q: My child has an adult tooth coming in and the baby tooth is still there. What do I do?

A: Nothing. Let nature take its course. Sooner or later, and it may take several months if not longer, the pressure from the adult tooth as it comes further in, the pressure from the child’s tongue as he/she speaks and swallows, and the natural reabsorbtion of the roots on that baby tooth will cause it to fall out. Dr. Camm and Dr. Beck will evaluate at the child’s next regular check-up.
Q: My child’s front tooth/teeth are changing color and look darker than the other teeth. What happened?

A: At some point your child fell or bumped into something with his mouth and caused some trauma to the teeth and blood supply that keeps them alive. They may get several shades darker and then remain that way for the life of the tooth. Or they may continue to slowly darken over time. In that case, you need to watch for a small blister like bubble to appear in the gum tissue above the tooth. If it does, please call the office (even if the child is not complaining of pain) and we will schedule an exam. You cannot, however, bleach or lighten baby teeth.
Q: My child just bit in to something and it looks like he/she broke part of his back tooth – help?

A: Is the child having significant pain? Call the office. But, if your child is around age 6 or age 12 and the area seems to be sore rather than acutely painful, there is a good chance that one of his/her adult molars is starting to come through. (What you are seeing is the top of the adult tooth starting to peek through, not the bottom part of a tooth that has broken off). And “teething”, even at age 6 or 12, can be uncomfortable. The adult molars are large, square and, on the bottom, working against gravity. Popsicles, cold drinks, frozen washcloths and ibuprofen (or whatever you normally give for minor pain) will often help things along.
Q: My child just fell/got hit and his/her front tooth is out. Now what?

A: IF it is an adult tooth, call the office. If it is a baby tooth, gently clean the area if needed, have them bit on some gauze or cotton to stop the bleeding if necessary, then put the tooth under his/her pillow and explain about the magic of the tooth fairy. Baby teeth cannot be re-implanted.
Q: Why are we filling “baby” teeth anyway?

A: Primary (baby) teeth come in handy for several reasons. They make it a lot easier to chew. They promote proper speech development. And they save space for the permanent teeth that are eventually going to replace them. And some of them stay in your child’s mouth until they are teenagers. IF Dr. Camm or Dr. Beck finds decay on a tooth that they are pretty sure is going to fall out before it causes any discomfort, they will advise you not to fill it. But a seven year old with decay on a back molar needs a filling – he/she needs that tooth for years to come, and decay, once it starts, cannot be stopped.
Q: What exactly are sealants?

A: Sealants involve putting a “plastic” coating in the grooves of the permanent molars. Since the grooves on the six and twelve year molars are often deep, and because children tend to spend most of their time brushing their front teeth, this is an area where decay frequently appears. The coating smoothes out the tooth and makes it less likely for food to get trapped. Most insurance companies cover these, but if you want to be sure call your company and ask.
Q: Why can’t I get an afternoon appointment for my child’s appointment?

A: Certain types of appointments – new patients, cavities, emergencies – are scheduled during the mornings when we have more time. Routine cleaning appointments are scheduled in the afternoon, but unfortunately we cannot manage to squeeze everyone in between the hours of 3:00 – 4:00PM. Thus in an effort to be fair, we reserve the after school and school holiday appointments for the children who are actually due during that particular month. We do release any appointments not filled on a week by week basis, so you are welcome to call at the beginning of the week to see if something has opened up.
Q: Why do I have to bring my child in at least once a year in order to continue being a patient at your office?

A: There are several reasons. Although the American Dental Association, the Academy of Pediatric Dentists and the Academy of Pediatricians recommends twice yearly visits to a dentist, the office realizes that for some people this is not a possibility. On the other hand, children who are not seen regularly end up using the dentist as an emergency room. We see them only when something hurts, which makes every visit stressful for both patient and staff. Children who are not seen regularly end up with more and bigger decay – if there are going to be cavities, we want to catch them when they are small. In the first 12 years of life, a child gets 20 baby teeth, loses 20 teeth, and gets 28 more. It is important for the rest of his/her life to make sure this goes well and that issues are caught early and corrected. And, finally, although both Dr. Camm and Dr. Beck realize that parents’ time and money are frequently hard to come by, they are your child’s dentist, and as such their primary responsibility is to look out for the best interests of the child. Which they cannot do if they are not seeing the child. Hence the office policy that requires at least one routine visit in a calendar year in order to remain as a patient.