Top Kids Dentist in Burbank CA

burbank dental group

Dental care is important for everyone. It’s important for kids, too. Taking care of your child’s teeth is critical to their health and well being. At our dental practice, we can take care of all of your child’s dental needs in a gentle way. We make sure that your kids enjoy their visit while getting all of the care they require. That way, they never develop that “dental anxiety” that so many of us have grown up with. In this blog, we’ll go over our top kids dentist in Burbank CA. We’ll explain to you how our practice works, as well as some things you can do with your child to make sure they have the best possible dental experience.

Our Kids Dental Care in Burbank CA

Your child’s “baby teeth” have another name: their teeth. Sure, your child’s baby teeth will fall out eventually, to be replaced by their permanent teeth. However, before then, it’s important to make sure that those teeth are as healthy as possible. The last thing you ever want is for your child to be in unnecessary pain. On top of that, good dental care means that they’ll be able to chew and speak well, too.

Like so many other activities that are important in adulthood, what your child learns as a kid will stick with them for the rest of their life. So, their youth is a great time to develop healthy oral care habits. That way, they’ll always have great oral hygiene. Brushing and flossing their teeth regularity as kids will pay off for the rest of their lives.

How we can help

To help facilitate healthy habits from the beginning, we do everything we can to make sure that you and your child get as much information as possible when you come to our dental practice. Typically, the best time to bring your child to the dentist is when the first tooth appears (after all, there’s rarely much for us to do before that). Another good rule of thumb is to bring your child to us when they turn one.

When you come in, we give you all the information you need to make informed decisions about your child’s dental health. If you have any questions about mouthwash and toothbrushes for your child, we’ll give you all the info you need to give your kids proper home care. Pacifiers and bottle habits are a major part of dental health for your infant, so we’ll explain that, too. You’ll be given quality, detailed education about sealants as well as everything you need to know about how your child’s diet relates to their dental health.

As your child grows, their jaw bone develops. So much of that development is tied into their baby or “primary” teeth. These all play a large part in guiding their permanent teeth into the right place. By taking care of your child’s dental needs, it helps to make certain that when their permanent teeth do arrive, they’ll be in the best position possible.

Preparing your Child for the Dentist

There are many “firsts” with your child which are exciting, timeless memories. The first time they go to school, the first time they walk, the first time they play some kind of sport. Rarely does someone take a picture of the first time their child goes to the dentist. However, a trip to the dentist doesn’t have to be a negative thing to be avoided or dreaded. In fact, we believe it should be the opposite. Going to the dentist is a great way to feel better.

One of the most important things you can do is to let your child know that going to the dentist is, well, important. Going to the dentist is a good thing and something they have to do. Just as they should go to another kind of doctor for their general health, they should go to the dentist for their dental health. Be sure your child understands that going to the dentist isn’t optional, something that they can choose or choose not to do.

You may also want to point out that going to the dentist makes sure that they grow up strong. Your child likes to eat; they feel good when they eat something that they enjoy. The dentist helps to make that possible. By taking care of their teeth, we make it so that they can get everything they want out of food. On top of that, they’ll just feel better after having come here, too. Be clear about the upside to going to the dentist.

top kids dental care in burbank ca

 

That being said, we know that many parents “bribe” their child to go to the dentist. Maybe you’ll give them a special treat or some kind of toy for coming here. While we understand the impulse, as a general rule, it’s not recommended. Studies have shown that it can increase your child’s apprehension. After all, why would your child have to be rewarded if they weren’t doing something difficult to be dreaded? Paradoxically, by offering them a bribe, you’re making them think that a trip to the dentist is something they should avoid. Besides, we’ll give them a toy when they come here.

As with anything else, you always want to be clear on what you tell your children. When you’re talking to your kids about what may happen at the dentist, you don’t have to tell them everything that could happen. The last thing you want is for your child to experience some kind of undue anxiety or worry about something that won’t happen. Just telling them something about how “these nice people are going to make sure your teeth are alright” or something like that is fine. That also extends to how we treat your kids, too. We mention that we “look for sugar bugs” on their teeth and are just looking to clean them off.

Pretend “Practice” Visit

There’s a great way to prepare your kids for their first dental visit that’s fun for you and your kids. Moreover, it allows them to play while expressing themselves creatively, too. We strongly recommend having a “pretend dental visit” with your child before they come in. You’ll play the dentist and your kid will play the dental patient. Through play acting, you can prepare them for what will happen in a typical dental checkup. You can let them know there’s nothing to be afraid of.

Then, after you’re done, that doesn’t mean the game is over. We also recommend that you play it a second time. Except, this second time, let your child be the dentist. You can be the dental patient. From talking to plenty of our patients over the years, this will be a lot of fun for both of you. It also gives them a chance to show what they’ve learned during the first playthrough in a creative way. Then, when they come to our dental practice, they’ll be more than ready.

The truth is that we love kids. Many of our dentists and other workers here are parents themselves. So, we treat your kids like they’re our own. We make sure that your kids have the best dental experience they can. That way, your kids will feel comfortable here and develop healthy oral care habits. Those will serve them well during the rest of their lives.

We take great pride in being the best kids’ dental practice in the Burbank area. We would do so even if we weren’t the only kids’ dental practice in the Burbank area. We know how important and special your children are. That’s why we treat their teeth with the gentle touch they deserve. To schedule a consultation with us about your child’s dental health, give us a call at (818) 260-9000 or book an appointment through our site.