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The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a dental home be established no later than 12 months of age. But what is it and why is it so important?
A “dental home” is an established dental practice that will look after your child’s oral care from their first tooth to their first career. Consider it your home away from home to meet all of your family’s dental needs.
Choosing a dental home can be a stressful process, but selecting the right one is guaranteed to make you and your family smile.
Benefits of a Having Dental Home
Builds Trust
Nearly 36% of people in the United States face dental anxiety, which has become a serious barrier in oral health care. Introducing a dental home allows for the dentist to build a trusting and respectful relationship, not only with the patient but with their family as well. This significantly reduces dental anxiety and encourages children to go to their appointments worry-free!
Establishing a dental home should begin at the site of the first tooth, or first year of age, depending on which comes first. Starting proper dental hygiene at such a young age allows children to create positive associations with the dentist early to ensure they maintain that care into adulthood.
Helps You Navigate Each Stage of Life
Each stage of your child’s life will naturally come with questions — what should you expect when your child is a newborn vs. 19 months old? As board-certified pediatric dentists, our SCV Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics team is here to put parents' minds at ease.
When it comes to answering your questions or educating you on how to best help your child practice brushing and flossing their teeth at home, we are here to help. Perhaps your child’s permanent teeth are coming in behind their baby teeth, or they still have a thumb-sucking habit. Your established dental home will work with you and your child to correct those habits and prevent further issues.
Offers Preventative Care
Some of the most common pediatric dentistry issues include tooth decay or cavities, tooth sensitivity, and pediatric gingivitis. Due to sugar-heavy diets and lack of proficient brushing and flossing skills, children require parental supervision when it comes to taking care of their teeth. Scheduling regular cleanings twice a year can help prevent dental problems and sustain good oral health.
Provides a Team with Extensive Training
Our team has completed additional education and continuous training to provide the utmost quality care that puts smiles on the faces of our patients.
Board Certified
Board-certified pediatric dentists complete advanced education and training for a minimum of two years. The American Board of Pediatric Dentistry also requires them to complete continuing education courses to renew their certification annually and uphold a standard of excellence. Establishing a dental home with a board-certified pediatric dentist establishes high-quality oral health care for your child.
Special Needs
All children deserve to have healthy and beautiful smiles. If your child has special needs, it is essential and beneficial to seek proper care from specialists with expert knowledge. Our staff here at SCV Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics is specially trained to provide increased awareness, attention, and accommodative measures to meet your child’s needs. We provide dentistry to children with various special needs including, Autism, Epilepsy, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, and others.
Tongue & Lip-Tie
SCV Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics also provides tongue and lip-tie treatments. If your baby is having difficulty breastfeeding or taking a bottle or is experiencing slow weight gain, they may have a tongue or lip-tie. After this treatment is done safely in the office, you will have the opportunity to consult with a lactation specialist for help with nursing.
Contact Our Valencia Pediatric Dental Office Today!
If you are reading this and have not yet established your dental home, it is never too late to start. From their first tooth to their first career, our family is here for yours. Establish your dental home with SCV Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics today by scheduling your first appointment here.
