At PM Dental Care, we are dedicated to providing your child with the benefits of the most modern and effective dental care by using the most advanced procedures in the industry.

It is our strong belief that early dental care can promote a lifetime of healthy smiles for children. Our highly skilled and nurturing staff will bring your child great care and a positive dental experience from his or her very first visit. Our team will help equip your child with the information needed for good oral hygiene. To ensure your child grows up with a healthy smile, we offer sealants, fluoride treatments, and tooth-colored fillings, along with regular check-ups.

A Child’s First Dental Visit

A child’s first dental visit should be scheduled around his/her first birthday. We believe the most important part of the visit is getting to know the office, the dentist, and the staff. Being comfortable in this setting will set the stage for a lifetime of trust and ease with the idea of dental visits. We allow children to sit in a parent’s lap in the exam room to provide an even greater sense of ease. Parents should encourage their child to discuss any fears or anxiety they have.

Why Primary Teeth Are Important

Primary teeth are important for several reasons. Good teeth allow a child to eat and maintain good nutrition. Healthy teeth allow for good speech habits as well as clear pronunciation. A positive self-image often accompanies healthy teeth. And, primary teeth are responsible for guiding the eruption of permanent teeth.

Good Diet and Healthy Teeth

A healthy, well-balanced diet is needed for the teeth, bones and soft tissue of the mouth. A variety of foods from each of the five food groups helps to minimize (and avoid) cavities and other dental issues. Most snacks that children eat cause cavities, so children should primarily eat healthy foods like vegetables, low-fat yogurt and cheeses, which promote strong teeth.

Other important functions of bringing your child to the dentist include:

Education - The dentist helps educate the child using models, computer technology, and child-friendly terminology. This help to emphasize the importance of keeping teeth strong and healthy. Further, the dentist advises parents on disease prevention, trauma prevention, good eating habits, and other aspects of the home hygiene routine.

Monitoring growth – Ongoing check-ups, twice per year, enable the dentist to track your child’s growth and development. The dentist is then able to identify dental issues early and quickly intervene before they worsen.

Prevention – Prevention is the key to a lifetime of healthy teeth. It is, therefore, part of the dentist’s role to guide parents and children in establishing sound eating and oral care habits. In addition to providing check-ups and dental cleanings, the dentist is also able to apply dental sealants and topical fluoride to young teeth, advise parents on thumb-sucking, pacifier, or smoking cessation, and provide good demonstrations of brushing and flossing.

Intervention – In some cases, dentists may discuss the possibility of early oral treatments with parents. In the case of oral injury, bruxism (grinding), and malocclusion (bad bite), space maintainers may be fitted, a nighttime mouth guard may be recommended, or reconstructive surgery may be scheduled.

At PM Dental Care, our goal is to care for your children's dental work by using the most comfortable methods and making these procedures as painless as possible!

We want to help set your child on a path of healthy dental habits that will last a lifetime. Call today to schedule your child’s dental appointment (516) 746-1111 or click here to schedule the appointment using our online scheduling system.