Ages Treated by a Kid Friendly Dentist

Taking your child to a dentist tuned in specifically to children's needs can help alleviate the stress and anxiety that comes with visits. This allows for a positive association at a young age with dental hygiene and helps curate healthy lifelong habits.

Creating Positive Dental Experiences

All Ages Welcome

A kid friendly dentist can make dentistry a pleasant experience for children of any age, even your kindergartener.

Warm and Engaging Staff

Our staff is warm and used to engaging with children, allowing for easy and fun interactions as soon as each child walks through the door.

Safe and Sound Care

Kid friendly dentists have the expertise needed to make little ones feel safe and sound in the dentist's chair.

Early Care Essential

It is essential for children to get the dental care they need early on, so parents should never delay to get them the treatment they need.

"A kid friendly dentist can make dentistry a pleasant experience for children of any age, even your kindergartener."

Qualities That Make a Kid Friendly Dentist Unique

Our waiting room is kid friendly, ensuring our patients are at optimum comfort from the moment they walk through the door. We know that kids do not have the same patience as adults, so we do not think they need to have the same waiting space.

Kid-Friendly Environment

Child Friendly Furniture

Our waiting room features child-friendly furniture designed for comfort and safety.

Toys and Entertainment

Toys, reading materials, and other safe and fun items are available to entertain little hands and minds while they wait.

Specialized Equipment

Our instruments and supplies are varied to fit even our littlest patients' needs, as adult tools are often too large for smaller mouths.

Specialized Care Approach

Gentler Touch

Children often require a gentler touch that kid friendly dentists can provide, ensuring comfort during procedures.

General and Specialized Services

Kid friendly dentists can provide general services as well as lifestyle interventions to address childhood habits.

Age-Appropriate Communication

We communicate with children in simple, easy-to-understand terms to explain what we are doing.

"Our waiting room is kid friendly, ensuring our patients are at optimum comfort from the moment they walk through the door."

Concerns Treated by a Kid Friendly Dentist

At myDentist El Monte, we check for issues that may develop from pacifier use, thumb sucking, or other common childhood habits that can affect dental health.

Childhood Habits We Monitor

Pacifier Use

We monitor for issues that may develop from prolonged pacifier use and provide guidance on proper usage.

Thumb Sucking

We watch for dental effects of thumb sucking and provide strategies to help children break this habit.

Poor Nutrition Effects

We watch for tooth decay signs that may come from poor nutrition or insufficient brushing and flossing.

Health Monitoring

Gum Health Monitoring

Oral health is inextricably linked to overall health. We closely monitor a child's gum health as any tooth decay or gum disease may lead to other forms of disease later on.

Baby Teeth Care

We closely monitor a child's baby teeth, as these effectively act as placeholders for the permanent teeth and are crucial for proper development.

Preventive Care

We provide general oral health examinations and visits, along with more specialized treatments based on the needs of our young patients.

General Treatments Provided

Our team provides general oral health examinations and visits, along with more specialized treatments based on the needs of our young patients.

"Our team provides general oral health examinations and visits, along with more specialized treatments based on the needs of our young patients."

Comprehensive Treatment Options

Dental Sealants

We can provide sealants to help minimize the potential for decay and protect vulnerable tooth surfaces.

Cavity Fillings

We provide fillings when cavities become problematic in both baby teeth and permanent ones.

Tooth Development Monitoring

We keep a close watch on how teeth are coming in behind baby teeth and can spot problems before they become an issue.

Early Intervention Planning

We can perform preventive procedures and create necessary game plans early on, such as utilizing braces or retainers to minimize effects down the road.

How Kid Friendly Dentists Work

A kid friendly dentist will also be familiar with behavioral techniques to help reduce fear and anxiety. These can include calming techniques and methods to help diffuse the stress that comes with painful or uncomfortable procedures.

Behavioral Techniques

Calming Techniques

We use calming techniques and methods to help diffuse the stress that comes with painful or uncomfortable procedures.

Teach Back Method

We may use the "teach back" technique to ensure that patients understand what they have learned about oral hygiene in a stress-free manner.

Simple Communication

We communicate with children in simple and easy-to-understand terms to explain what we are doing.

Building Trust and Comfort

No Scary Jargon

We are careful not to use scary jargon or speak in a way that may cause a patient to feel intimidated.

Patient Involvement

It is important for us that our patients understand what we are trying to convey and feel like they are part of the process.

Trust Building

Trust is integral in a healthy relationship, and we know good communication is vital in achieving that.

"A kid friendly dentist is perfect for children who are intimidated by the prospect of being in the dentist's chair."

Questions Answered on This Page

Q. What ages does a kid friendly dentist treat?

A kid friendly dentist can make dentistry a pleasant experience for children of any age, from toddlers to teenagers, including kindergartners and all school-age children.

Q. What makes a kid friendly dentist unique?

Kid friendly dentists have specialized equipment for smaller mouths, child-friendly waiting rooms with toys and entertainment, and staff trained to engage with children in a warm, comforting manner.

Q. What conditions are treated by a kid friendly dentist?

We monitor childhood habits like pacifier use and thumb sucking, watch for tooth decay from poor nutrition, monitor gum health, and care for baby teeth that act as placeholders for permanent teeth.

Q. What treatments does a kid friendly dentist provide?

We provide dental sealants, cavity fillings for both baby and permanent teeth, tooth development monitoring, and early intervention planning including braces or retainers when needed.

Q. What kind of techniques do kid friendly dentists use to calm children?

We use calming techniques, the "teach back" method for stress-free learning, simple communication without scary jargon, and involve children in the process to build trust and comfort.

People Also Ask

Q. What should a home oral care routine include?

A home oral care routine should include brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, flossing daily, using mouthwash, and regular dental check-ups every six months.

Q. What's the right age to get sealants?

Dental sealants are typically applied to permanent molars as soon as they come in, usually around age 6 for first molars and age 12 for second molars.

Q. What is family dentistry?

Family dentistry provides comprehensive dental care for patients of all ages, from children to seniors, offering preventive, restorative, and cosmetic treatments in a comfortable environment.

Frequently Asked Questions About Kid Friendly Dentists

Yes, at myDentist El Monte, we explain to your child how they can maintain proper oral hygiene. We know this is new to our patients and that it takes practice to create habits. We give both our patients and their parents specific instructions on what the children should do, how to do it, and how often.

Give us a call, and we may be able to schedule an office tour for you and your little one. This will allow you to meet the staff to create more of a sense of familiarity when the actual appointment comes around. It also gives your child a chance to see where they will be sitting during the appointment and ask questions about tools and other items that may be in the office.

While you ultimately have the choice of whether to accompany your child, keep in mind that the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry encourages parents of older children to stay in the waiting room. Younger children may benefit from having a parent present in the room, but it is best to keep out of sight for the duration of the visit. As a silent observer, you can allow the dentist to connect with the patient and establish trust with your child.

An ideal patient for a kid friendly dentist is a youth who may not be comfortable yet in an adult setting. Someone who needs to learn about oral hygiene and is willing to learn and practice dental health basics is a perfect candidate. The child friendly atmosphere can help an otherwise unsure youth wade into appointments in a pressure-free setting.

If your child has been to a dental professional in the past, bring along the records. If there are medical issues that might affect your child's oral health, be sure to bring them as well. Have all insurance cards and information on hand so you can properly fill out the forms upon arrival and copies can be made in the office. Finally, if your child has a stuffed animal or another toy that offers emotional solace, bring it along for extra comfort.

Family Dental Terminology

Dental Caries

Dental caries are also known as cavities and result from a lack of proper oral hygiene leaving plaque that forms tiny holes in the teeth.

Dental Sealants

Dental sealants are a solution of plastic material that we apply to the crown of the tooth to protect the areas within the ridges of teeth from infection.

Dental Prophylaxis

A dental prophylaxis is a thorough cleaning procedure that involves preventing the spread or continued growth of periodontal disease and gingivitis.

Dentist

A dentist, also known as a dental surgeon, is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity.

Etchant

Etchant is a gentle acid to treat the surface of a specific tooth to help the filling material stick to the tooth.

Occlusion

Occlusion describes the mandibular and maxillary rows of teeth meeting when the patient bites down. If a patient does not have a healthy bite, they are struggling with malocclusion.

Overjet

An overjet is a bite orientation that results from the maxillary central incisors (top center teeth) protruding over the mandibular central incisors (bottom front teeth); this may also be known as "buck teeth" by patients.

Pregnancy Gingivitis

Pregnancy gingivitis is gingivitis that results from the common change in hormones during pregnancy that increases blood flow to the gum tissue, increasing sensitivity, irritability and swelling in the gums.

Start Your Child's Dental Journey

While early dental care is a priority, it can be intimidating when considering potential expenses such as braces or extractions. However, a flexible spending account, or FSA, is often helpful when it comes to picking up the financial slack.