Questions for your Wilmington dentist?
Here are some of the most commonly asked dentistry questions we are asked by patients, as well as excerpts from Dr. Gladnick's column in the Wilmington News Journal's "Ask the Dentist." If you have further questions, or want to schedule your next dentist appointment, call us today!
Pediatric Dentistry
In our dental office, we do more than treat your child’s teeth. We have a vested interest in their future oral health as well. This means your child’s pediatric dentist in Wilmington, DE fosters curiosity in your child and works to educate them about their dental health.
We like to see children around the time when their first tooth arrives. With this visit,
we start to establish a relationship with the child, so they feel good about coming to the dentist and proud of their future checkups that show they are taking their smile health seriously.
We Work With Local Families In Wilmington, DE
We also work with you—offering advice for at-home care, discussing all findings at every exam, and answering all of your questions. Taking care of your child’s teeth is a collaboration between our dental team and you. We both want what is best for your child!
Our dentistry also evolves to satisfy your child’s changing needs. Before you know it, laughs with our team and rides in the dental chair give way to professional teeth cleanings and orthodontic evaluations. And we are here for your child every step of the way.
Are You Looking for a Kid’s Dentist in Wilmington?
If you would like to arrange dentistry for your child, we are always thrilled to welcome new children into our dental family. Call today to get started.
When a child’s smile is healthy and beautiful, the
y will more likely reap the lifelong benefits of excellent oral health. Preventive dental care and regularly visiting a children’s dentist in Wilmington can help keep your child’s smile strong and disease-free.
Preventive Care Is Essential
Even though baby teeth are temporary, it’s still crucial to make sure they fall out naturally to make room for permanent teeth. If a baby tooth falls out due to tooth decay, it may interrupt the natural progress and placement of permanent adult teeth—possibly resulting in crooked or crowded teeth.
Gentle Cavity Treatment for Children
If we detect tooth decay in a baby tooth, we will remove all the decay and fill it to preserve your child’s dental health. We may offer fluoride treatments to prevent decay and cavities from occurring.
We also utilize dental sealants to coat your child’s teeth to prevent bacteria from settling in. We often see fewer cavities in patients who use dental sealants and practice preventive dental care.
Schedule a Visit with a Kids’ Dentist in Wilmington
Whatever your child’s dental needs may be, our team can provide them with the compassionate, quality care they deserve! Call us today at (302) 994-2660, and one of our team members will be happy to speak with you about your child’s smile.
Restorative dentistry for children includes the prevention and treatment of diseases to restore their smiles to optimal health. This type of dental work can also include repairing decayed or damaged teeth using kid-friendly fillings, sealants, and fluoride treatments.
Prevention Is Key
Preventive dental care starts with protecting your child’s baby teeth so that they are healthy and ready to receive their permanent teeth. Many kids will need to fill a cavity, even when they still have baby teeth.
If your child complains about tooth pain or sensitivity, do not hesitate to schedule a dental appointment with our pediatric dentist in Wilmington. We have a good shot at preserving your child’s tooth as long as we address oral health issues early on.
We Prioritize Your Child’s Comfort
At Justison and Gladnick Family Dentistry, your dentist in Wilmington, we will never push or rush your child. We work at their pace, so they can feel as relaxed and comfortable as possible. It’s our goal to show children the importance of oral care and that it can be a fun, pain-free, and positive experience.
Gentle Pediatric Dentistry in Wilmington
We utilize dental exams and digital x-rays to look for tooth decay and infection. We make dentistry pain-free and positive so that when restorative dentistry is needed, your child will not feel anxious.
To learn more about restorative options for your child or to schedule an appointment, please give us a call at (302) 994-2660.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that the first visit is within six months of the first tooth eruption.
At Justison and Gladnick Family Dentistry, we take this opportunity, at no cost to you, to welcome your child into our dental practice and introduce him or her to our warm and child-friendly staff. This is really an informal and pleasant experience for your child. It helps them feel comfortable in the dental environment before starting pediatric dentistry in Wilmington, DE.
What Happens At My Child's First Appointment?
These appointments also allow our children’s dentist in Wilmington to monitor your child’s oral development and spot any potential issues early. Additionally, we help educate you on how to care for your child’s smile at home, which plays a crucial role in his or her success.
Discussions may include:
- Thumb sucking, pacifier use
- Teething concerns
- Cleaning your child’s teeth after eating
- What to do in the event of a dental emergency
- Nutritional counseling
And we always take the time to answer your questions or address your concerns.
Our dentists also believe that dentistry should be fun for your child, and we work hard to help them feel confident and comfortable in our dental office. We want your child to enjoy coming to the dentist as much as we love seeing him or her in our practice!
Healthy smiles for life start with excellent dental experiences.
Schedule Your Child’s First Dental Visit in Wilmington Today
We look forward to meeting your family and encourage you to contact our dental team if you have any questions.
Here are six steps to stay free of tooth decay:
- Good home care with parent-assisted brushing and flossing.
- Fluoride topically and in water.
- Limited snacking because frequent consumption of starchy foods like crackers, breads, and sweets lead to tooth decay.
- Sealants in teeth with pits and grooves.
- Mouthguards in sports like football, baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey, skateboarding, and gymnastics.
- Regular visits to a dentist.
Contact Our Wilmington, DE Dental Office
Additionally, if your children are wearing braces, they still need to have regular cleanings. If you have more questions about pediatric dentistry at Justison and Gladnick Family Dentistry, give our friendly dental team a call today and we will be happy to answer your questions.
Tongue thrusting can be a huge problem, causing spacing in between teeth, “bucked” teeth, and an open bite (where the front teeth don’t come completely together upon closure). Tongue thrusting can be caused by breathing problems associated with allergies, enlarged tonsils, narrow jaws, and some dental malocclusions. Ask your dentist to evaluate your child’s swallow or phone us at (302) 468-6742.
Teeth that have deep depressions and grooves on their biting surfaces are prime candidates for developing decay. Food can get stuck in those grooves and be very hard to remove even with brushing. Luckily, sealants can save the day!
The Process
The surface of the tooth is first cleaned off, and then the sealant is bonded to the tooth (all accomplished without anesthetic). The sealant acts as a barrier, protecting the tooth from plaque, sugars, and acids that cause decay.
Things to Consider
Although thorough brushing and flossing helps keep your teeth clean, the bristles cannot remove everything from the deep grooves on the biting surfaces. Sealants help to protect these susceptible areas by “sealing out” plaque and food. Sealants are an excellent way of helping to prevent decay, usually lasting several years before reapplication is needed.
A pacifier, if it must be used, is easier for the parent to stop than if the child sucks his/her thumb. Either habit should be discouraged prior to the eruption of any permanent front teeth, around six years of age. Both habits can cause the top front teeth to flare forward and the bottom front teeth to be forced back, changing the bite and appearance of the teeth and face. The constant pressure to the roof of the mouth can result in a high, narrow palate, eventually causing crowded permanent teeth.
Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in all water sources, including the ocean, lakes, and some underground wells. Breast milk is typically acknowledged as the most complete form of infant nutrition, but if you are formula feeding, check with your dentist to see whether tap water or filtered water (without fluoride) is the most appropriate water to reconstitute infant formula in your area.
Dietary fluoride supplements are available only by prescription and are intended for children only in areas where optimal fluoride levels are not present in the drinking water.