Baby Teeth...Whats the Big Deal?

“Baby teeth don’t really matter; they are going to fall out anyway.” Does this sound familiar to you? Perhaps you have even thought it yourself. The truth is, however, that baby teeth are more than just space holders for “grown up” teeth. Primary teeth play a vital role in a child’s health and development including aiding in digestion and helping a child learn to speak properly.
Dr. Keith Morley, pediatric dental specialist and president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, states, “Most of these first teeth, apart from the front ones, will be there for a decade – and keeping them healthy is essential for your child’s adult teeth to grow in healthy and strong. If your child’s baby teeth are left to decay, they can become infected or abscessed. In addition to causing pain and suffering, infections can harm and even destroy the developing permanent teeth which are growing in the child’s jaw. Plus, early loss of baby teeth can lead to the permanent teeth growing in crooked – and no one should discount how psychologically important an attractive smile is to a growing child. Therefore, baby teeth are essential for your child’s general health and well-being.”

Ashley Coppedge, dental assistant for Halley White Pediatric Dentistry may have said it best, “I look at baby teeth as training wheels for permanent teeth. They are very important for holding space while permanent teeth erupt and teaching children to take care of them is the best way to ensure healthy adult teeth.”

For more information on the importance of your child’s primary teeth and for suggestions on ways to keep them healthy, visit the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s website at www.aapd.org.

Pajama Day was a Hit!

At Halley White Pediatric Dentistry, we enjoy being able to make the dental experience fun as well as productive. On March 1, 2010 we hosted our first annual Pajama Day and it was a comfy success! Along with our team, many patients came dressed in their best Hello Kitty slippers, fuzzy robes, Spiderman pants and Dora nightgowns. Patients that choose to participate were treated to a gift certificate for a free Kid's Meal from Chick-fil-a Mayfaire AND a visit from the cow in her jammies. Coming soon we will have Pirate and Princess Day and Favorite Super Hero Day!

What are Dental Sealants?

Oftentimes, even children that have healthy diets, use proper brushing techniques and regularly floss may still encounter the occasional cavity. “The causes of decay are mutlifactorial“says hygienist and treatment coordinator for Dr. Halley, Nancy St Onge. “A person’s enzyme make-up has more to do with it than you realize. That is why a family can have one child with perfectly healthy teeth and another child riddled with decay; those children are unique in their make-up. This is the reason Dr. Halley provides treatment recommendations tailored to the individual needs of each child.” Typically, proper brushing, regular flossing and visits to the dentist will help prevent cavities; however, sealants are an added safe-guard. First approved by the FDA in the 1970’s, sealants are designed to literally “seal” the pits and grooves that form on teeth thus preventing food and bacteria from getting caught. Sealants are particularly helpful for molars and premolars as they tend to be filled with pits and grooves that are difficult to clean with a toothbrush. “Sometimes, baby teeth do have grooves that are deep enough to trap food and cause decay; this can make them come out earlier than they should” (North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services). The most accurate way to determine if your young child is a candidate for sealants is to have them examined by a dentist. The best time to put sealants on teeth is just after the permanent first molars appear. Just as fluoride provides protection from decay, sealants provide an added benefit to the chewing surfaces.
If you are concerned that your child may need sealants, be sure to talk to Dr. Halley about it at your next visit. For patients with insurance, we will let you know if this is a covered benefit and the estimated cost for the procedure in advance of placing the sealants.

Keep those molars happy by helping to prevent decay!



ReferencesNorth Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Oral Health Section. (2006). Dental Sealants Seal Out Tooth Decay [Brochure].