Prevention

This old saying is as true for dental care as in the rest of life: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Everything you do to care for your child’s teeth and gums helps to avoid dental disease: eating a healthy diet, brushing, flossing and seeing your NYC pediatric dentist, Dr. Dikansky, on a regular basis.

The Importance of Prevention:

Preventing cavities, even in primary teeth, is smart parenting. Teaching your child to brush and floss daily, and assisting until your child can do this on his own, will remove plaque and prevent decay. Fostering a healthy diet that’s low in sugar and refined carbohydrates contributes to both a healthy body and healthy teeth and gums. Scheduling regular appointments for your child with Dr. Dikansky allows her to completely examine your child’s teeth and gums often enough to minimize the need for more serious dental treatments, assuming she can catch problems early on.

Frequency of Pediatric Dental Visits

Because there are no hard and fast rules about dental visits, since some studies suggest every 3-4 months and others recommend every 6 months, Dr. Dikansky will recommend the frequency of visits that’s right for your child.

Dr. Dikansky will recommend additional instructions for you and your child to follow on your own at home. These recommendations will be based upon the results of each dental exam.

Scheduling an Appointment

at our NYC Children’s Dental Office

Professional Examination

Professional Pediatric Dental Examinations

Routine dental exams allow Dr. Dikansky, our Financial District pediatric dentist, to stay on top of your child’s dental status. Dr. Dikansky wants to protect your child’s oral health and you assist in this care by scheduling routine appointments that allow her to detect problems when they are most treatable.

When to Schedule Your Child’s First Dental Exam

Both the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association recommends scheduling a child’s first dental exam after the first tooth appears, and no later than the first birthday. Toddlers, school-age children, and teens should, as adults, see our downtown NYC pediatric dentist every six months. In cases of high risk for tooth decay or other dental concerns, Dr. Dikansky may recommend more frequent visits.

The Importance of “Baby” Teeth

Baby teeth serve several important functions, including:

Allowing your child to chew properly
Maintaining proper space for permanent teeth
Permitting normal development of muscles in the jaw as well as jaw bones
Reinforcing the development of normal speech

For these reasons, it is essential to schedule regular visits at our Manhattan pediatric dental office even if your child has only “baby” teeth. While it’s true that your child’s four front teeth will last only until about the age of 6 or 7, other baby teeth (i.e., the primary molars) will remain in your child’s mouth until he or she is between 10 and 12 years of age. Baby teeth that are riddled with cavities or prematurely lost due to a lack of dental care can affect the four functions above, increasing your child’s risk for a lifetime of dental and/or speech problems.

Primary Teeth Eruption Chart

Permanent Teeth Eruption Chart

What Happens at a Pediatric Dental Examination

For the youngest children, up to about a year or so in age, Dr. Dikansky will evaluate your child’s oral hygiene, checking for sores or bumps in your child’s mouth, and removing deposits or stains on the teeth. Your child’s tooth eruption history, eating and drinking habits, pacifier use and thumb sucking will be reviewed. Dr. Dikansky will evaluate whether your child is getting adequate fluoride and may recommend a fluoride supplement.

As your child grows, regular dental checks will include sealants, dental x-rays, and evaluation for thumb sucking, jaw clenching or nail biting. If she sees poor alignment of the teeth, Dr. Dikansky may recommend a visit with the orthodontist.

Dental X-Rays

Radiographs (X-Rays) are a vital and necessary part of your child’s dental diagnostic process. Without them, certain dental conditions can and will be missed. At our Tribeca pediatric dental office, digital x-rays have replaced older x-ray technology. For more information about digital x-rays, please visit that page on our website.

Scheduling an Appointment

at our NYC Children’s Dental Office

Treatment Recommendations

Our Lower Manhattan pediatric dentist, Dr. Dikansky, is committed to your child’s long-term dental health. That means she’s constantly on the lookout for oral health problems that, if treated early, can contribute to a lifetime of beautiful smiles.

During your child’s treatments and exams, if Dr. Dikansky notices any oral health concerns, she will recommend the appropriate treatments to prevent them from worsening and to correct them. If you have any concerns between visits, feel free to call our office to discuss them with Dr. Dikansky or one of our staff, and/or to make an appointment with our Manhattan children’s dentist.