Dr. Tina Merhoff Pediatric Dentistry provides comprehensive and compassionate pediatric dental services. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a child have their dental visit with a dental professional by the age of 1.
This allows early detection of dental caries, pathology, and issues with dental development. The first tooth erupts at approximately 6 months of age and thus an initial exam is recommended approximately 6 months after.
In the same way that pediatricians are trained to meet a child’s medical needs, our pediatric dental services specialists are uniquely qualified to protect your child’s oral health using the most advanced techniques, and all in our delightfully friendly open treatment area.
Pediatric dentists have an additional two to three years of training at university pediatric facilities in addition to four years of dental school and four years of college study.
Dr. Tina and Dr. Victoria all practiced general dentistry before specializing, giving them a unique perspective. They learn how to deal with the behavioral aspects of children, how to make them feel comfortable, and to make the experience pleasant. They also are trained and qualified to treat special needs patients.
Some dental problems begin very early in life. One concern is early childhood tooth decay, a serious condition caused by a child staying on the bottle (or breast) too long. Another problem is gum disease. About 40 percent of children two to three years old have at least mild inflammation of gum tissues.
Oral habits (such as digit sucking) should also be checked. The earlier the dental visit, the better the chances of preventing problems. Strong, healthy teeth help your child chew food easily, speak clearly, and feel good about his or her appearance.
Primary teeth are important because they help with proper chewing and eating, help in speech development, and add to an attractive appearance. A child who can chew easily, speak clearly, and smile confidently is a happier child.
Healthy primary teeth allow normal development of the jaw bones and muscles, save space for the permanent teeth, and guide them into place. If a baby tooth is lost too soon, permanent teeth may come in crooked.
Decayed baby teeth can cause pain, abscesses, infections, and can spread to the permanent teeth. Also, your child’s general health can be affected if diseased baby teeth aren’t treated with pediatric dental services and by a pediatric dentist.
Remember, some primary molars are not replaced until age 10-14, so they must last for years.
We are asked this question many times. We suggest you prepare your child the same way that you would before their first hair-cut or trip to the shoe store. This will not be the frightening experience you may remember from your youth.
If you are nervous about the trip, then the less you say the better. You cannot hide your anxiety from a child (they have radar for these things).
We will send you an activity/coloring book before the appointment that will explain everything. Have fun going through it with your child. Your child’s reaction to his first visit to the dentist may surprise you.
Tooth decay and children no longer have to go hand-in-hand. At our office, we are most concerned with all aspects of preventive care. We use the latest in sealant technology to protect your child’s teeth.
Sealants are space-age plastics that are bonded to the chewing surfaces of decay-prone back teeth. This is just one of the ways we will set the foundation for your child’s lifetime of good oral health through our pediatric dental services.
Your health and peace of mind are always our primary concern; therefore, we use state-of-the-art sterilization procedures in our pediatric dental services.
After each patient’s visit, the treatment area is thoroughly disinfected. We ultrasonically clean and heat-sterilize all non-disposable instruments.
Our staff wears gloves and masks during procedures. Please feel free to ask us for information on the measures we take to ensure the safety of you and your children or a tour of our sterilization area.
