Answers for Growing Smiles
Parents often have questions about their child’s dental visits, development, and treatment needs. Fox Pediatric Dentistry in Elgin is here to provide clear guidance and a comfortable, supportive experience for your family. Explore answers to common questions below, and contact our team if you need more information.
A pediatric dentist completes additional training focused on caring for infants, children, teens, and children with special health care needs. This training covers growing teeth and jaws, child behavior, oral development, and ways to make dental visits more comfortable for young patients.
Your child should have their first dental visit by their first birthday or within six months after their first tooth appears, whichever comes first. Early visits allow our team to check development, discuss home care, and help your child become familiar with the dental office.
In most cases, parents are welcome to join their child during the visit. Having a familiar face nearby can help younger children feel secure. As children become older or more independent, the care team may discuss what setting will help the appointment go most smoothly.
While it is true that baby teeth eventually fall out, baby teeth are treated to maintain form and function until natural exfoliation. Baby or primary teeth are essential for daily functions such as speech, eating, and quality of life. It’s important to note that some baby teeth do not fall out until 12 years of age.
Many times x-rays or radiographs are critical in proper diagnosis. If you are coming from a different office where x-rays were previously taken, please bring them with you to prevent taking unnecessary additional x-rays. However, if an x-ray is unclear or blurry, sometimes additional x-rays will need to be taken for proper diagnosis.
At our practice, we adhere to the ALARA principle, which means “as low as reasonably achievable.” We only take x-rays when absolutely needed to minimize the amount of radiation to your child. Furthermore, technology has also come a long way to use the lowest amount of radiation possible to achieve an image useful for diagnosis.
- Periapical X-Rays These X-rays show the entire tooth, including the root and surrounding bone. They may be used to check for infection, injury, or changes around a specific tooth.
- Bitewing X-Rays Bitewings help us look for cavities between back teeth, where decay is often difficult to see during an exam. They may be recommended once teeth begin touching.
- Panoramic X-Rays A panoramic X-ray captures the full mouth, including developing permanent teeth, jaws, and surrounding structures. It may be used to monitor dental development and evaluate orthodontic concerns.
