Pediatric Dentistry of Redlands

There are so many options when it comes to dentists. How do you know if your dentist is the right fit for you? Ask your dentist these 4 questions in order to determine if they are the right pediatric dentist for your family, because your children’s dental health is critical and they deserve the best. Is the dentist a general dentist or a pediatric dentist? A pediatric dentist has gone to school specifically to become a pediatric dentist. They have extra classes that help them meet the unique needs of your child. Are they friendly? Customer service is important and you should feel at home when you enter the office. Do they greet you? Or do they ask if they have to meet your needs? Customer service should not take a backseat to good care says Dr. Cameron Fuller. At his office, he feels it is essential that when families bring their children to his practice they feel comfortable. Does the pediatric dentist explain what procedures are goi...

Did you know that x-rays could help evaluate the health of your child’s smile? There are cavities that could be lurking in between the teeth that cannot be seen by the naked eye. Having regular x-rays can help your child’s dental provider evaluate and ensure that they are on the right track with their smile.   An x-ray allows for an image to be shown which will allow the dentist not only to see if there are cavities, but also if there are structural concerns that are below the gum line. Your child may return to their activities immediately following an x-ray and there are no other immediate side effects that should impact your child. Once the dentist has a clear picture of your child’s smile if they have concerns, or other treatment is needed to address a problem, they will walk through this with you to ensure you have all the information you need. X-rays are usually quick and easy. There is nothing special that needs to be done prior to an x-ray. You may want to exp...

Thumb sucking is a natural response for children who usually do it because it helps console and comfort them.   This is a natural event for children and is not usually anything you need to be concerned about until they begin to get their permanent teeth. Some factors can damage the alignment of the teeth more so than other factors. Research shows that the intensity in which your child sucks their thumb along with how often they suck their thumb are two factors that can influence the potential damage to their teeth.   Most children will naturally stop sucking their thumb between the ages of 2 and 4. If your child gets their permanent teeth and they are still sucking their thumb, you may want to begin helping support them to stop. You do not want to nag or punish your child for this behavior as it only may increase their need for comfort, thus increasing their desire to suck on their thumb. You may want to curb this habit if you begin to notice that the shape...