Dentistry for Children near Norfolk, VA
When the first tooth erupts, it’s essential to start taking your child to the dentist. At Coastal Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry, we offer quality dental care for patients of all ages. We help to instruct your children on the best ways to take care of their teeth and why it’s so important to do so. Parents and children alike can learn the best brushing and flossing tips from their dentist to make sure that those tiny teeth grow properly and look their best.
Preventing Cavities in Children
More than half of all first-graders and 80% of 17-year-olds need a cavity filling. Cavity prevention can be largely dependent on good oral hygiene, which includes routine visits to our Norfolk, VA dental office for a professional cleaning and examination. In addition, proper brushing and flossing at home play a major role in reducing tooth decay and the need for a dental filling. Dr. Sinclair makes this fun for young patients, teaches them the right way to brush, and helps them learn that they are the masters of their own dental health care.
The Importance of Primary Teeth
In addition to facilitating a healthy diet for your growing child, the primary teeth serve several important functions in their overall development:
- Place holders for permanent teeth: the position of the primary teeth can predict possible problems with permanent teeth.
- Affect speech development: primary teeth affect tongue movement and clarity as your child’s speech develops.
Children who learn the benefits of keeping their teeth and gums clean with daily oral hygiene and routine dentistry often experience better dental health as adults. During early visits our staff will take the time to teach age-appropriate teeth brushing and flossing skills, encouraging them to play a role in the care of their smile.
Avoiding Dental Anxiety
When your children come to our dental office we want to make sure they have good memories of dental care. Our compassionate staff works to make children comfortable and calm. Parents can sit in with their children and the children can see their parents get dental care and realize it’s nothing to worry about.
Starting a positive relationship with the dentist early on makes it more likely that that relationship will continue as they get older. Many people develop dental anxiety because of a bad experience they’ve had at the dentist, maybe when they were a child. Your child’s comfort and care are our top priorities when they’re in our office. We make things fun and do our best to ensure kids are smiling when they leave the office.
Schedule a Pediatric Dental Visit near Norfolk, Virginia
Pediatric dentistry is a branch of dentistry that focuses on the oral care of children. Pediatric dentists study the development and growth patterns of children’s teeth. They also have to understand the psychosocial development, language, and cognitive skills that are associated with pediatric patients. Pediatric dentists also have to be able to communicate effectively with parents or guardians about their child’s dental care.
Just like adults, children should be visiting the dentist for regular dental care at least two times a year. This allows us to track their progress as they grow, and catch potential problems early on. For example, if your child needs an orthodontic consultation, we can take care of that as soon as possible. Call us or schedule an appointment today.