Children’s Dentistry – South Windsor, CT
Give Your Little Smile a Strong Start
South Windsor Dental is a true family practice, so we’re more than happy to see your children and make sure they grow up to have a lifetime of happy, healthy smiles. With well over a decade of experience as a children’s dentist in South Windsor, Dr. Curcio and our friendly team will help your child feel comfortable at the dentist so they can get off to a great start with their oral health. If you have a little smile at home, we’d love to meet them! To get your child on the path to great dental health and a beautiful smile, contact us today to schedule an appointment.
When Should You Schedule Their First Checkup?
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry suggests that all children should visit a dentist by the time they are one year old. Why? These early appointments serve two important purposes.
Firstly, they allow Dr. Curcio to make sure your child’s teeth are developing correctly. If she spots an area of concern early, it will be much simpler and easier for her to treat it while your child is young rather than wait till later.
These appointments are also essential to teach your child just how important dental care really is. They give you and Dr. Curcio a chance to discuss with them why taking care of their teeth matters, how to brush, floss, make good dietary choices, and so on. Regular checkups from early on also help your child establish a positive connection to going to the dentist, which will help them better maintain their dental care as they grow up and become more independent.
Kid-Friendly Services For Every Stage of Development
Here are just some of the children’s dentistry services we provide:
- Athletic guards – If your child plays any type of contact sport or recreational activity like mountain biking, a custom-made athletic guard will prevent injuries like knocked-out teeth and even reduce the severity of a concussion.
- Topical fluoride treatments – A professional fluoride treatment is one of the best ways to strengthen your child’s enamel and prevent cavities between visits.
- Sealants – Even with good brushing habits, it’s often impossible to clean the deep grooves on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. Sealants are thin, clear coatings that cover and protect these areas to prevent microscopic, cavity-causing bacteria from causing problems.
- Wisdom teeth extractions – Also called the third molars, the wisdom teeth usually come in between ages 15 – 25. When your child is around age 15, we’ll recommend taking a panoramic X-ray that shows us if the wisdom teeth have started developing inside the jaws. In some cases, we’ll need to wait longer to see how they come in, while in others, we can tell right away if they’re likely to cause problems like oral infections, crowding, or bite alignment issues.
At-Home Oral Hygiene Tips For Kids
As a kids’ dentist in South Windsor, our goal is to prevent problems instead of treating them. In addition to providing preventative care in our office, we’ll also give you at-home oral hygiene tips that are tailored to your child’s needs such as:
- If you have an infant, gently clean their gums 2-3 times each day with an ultra-soft teething brush or a clean, damp cloth.
- When the first tooth comes in (and before age 3), use a very light smear or rice-sized amount of toothpaste. After age 3, use a slightly larger pea-sized amount.
- Around age 2-3, let your child pick out their own age-appropriate toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.
- Read books to your child about the importance of taking care of their teeth. You can also use one of the many apps designed to motivate kids to brush and floss and make it more fun.
- Children want to do everything they see you do, so try to set the example of brushing and flossing regularly and they’ll be more likely to follow suit.