Our highly trained and friendly staff deliver the best pediatric dentistry in Livermore.
Proper oral hygiene is vital for happy, healthy children. Unfortunately, roughly 1 out of 5 children in the US under age 5 have at least one untreated decayed tooth. That’s why our South S Family Dental Care team specializes in pediatric dentistry in Livermore. We believe in fostering healthy oral hygiene habits early. Our warm and welcoming staff make the dental care experience safe, friendly, and fun with an emphasis on education.
For many kids, going to the dentist can be scary. There are big machines and strangers and scary tools. We make it a point to relieve those fears in the very first appointment.
Our staff gets to know even our youngest patients, so that they feel safe, confident, and comfortable asking any questions they have. Our staff encourages it. We educate your children on all aspects of dental care, so those big machines and scary tools aren’t scary anymore. In fact, they can be fun!
We know that it can be nerve-wracking to let someone else take care of your child. Our highly trained staff always have your family’s best interest as our #1 priority.
As the dentist of choice for many family’s for generations, we consider it an honor to be trusted with the youngest of patients with our pediatric dentistry in Livermore. We cannot wait to watch your child grow up happy, healthy, and smiling. It’s a privilege to be with you on the journey.
A child’s first dental visit should be scheduled around his or her third birthday, unless an area of concern shows up earlier.
The most important part of any child’s first visit is getting to know the dentist and staff, so that your child feels comfortable and at home in our office. We strive to build trust with our patients, so your kids feel comfortable and at ease every time they come in. When possible, we allow the child to sit on their parent’s lap, which we find puts them further at ease. We encourage any and all questions, and we’re happy to answer them.
We recommend seeing the dentist every 6 months. That way we can ensure your child’s teeth are healthy and coming in properly.
Yes! Primary teeth are important for several reasons. Good primary teeth allow a child to eat properly and maintain good nutrition. They encourage clear pronunciation and help build proper speech habits early on. Having good, healthy teeth at a young age builds confidence and encourages happy, smiling kids. Primary teeth also guide the eruption of the permanent teeth when they come in, allowing for better teeth alignment.
A child’s teeth begin to form before birth. As early as 4 months of age, the primary or “baby” teeth begin to push through the gums, starting with the lower, central incisors, followed by the upper. The remainder of the twenty primary teeth typically come in by age 3. Around age 6, the permanent teeth begin to come in, starting with the first molars and lower central incisors. This process continues until around age 21.
When teething occurs, gums are sore and tender. Rubbing sore gums gently with a clean finger, the back of a cold spoon, or a cold, wet cloth helps soothe the gums. Teething rings also work well, but avoid teething biscuits as they contain sugar that is not good for baby teeth.
Each time a child drinks liquid containing sugar, acids attack their teeth for about 20 minutes. When awake, saliva carries the liquid away. During sleep, however, the saliva flow significantly decreases, causing liquids to pool and coat the teeth in acid for long periods of time. This is what leads to decay.
Luckily, tooth decay in infants can be minimized and, in some cases, totally prevented by not allowing sleeping infants to breast or bottle-feed. Infants that need a bottle to fall asleep should be given a bottle filled with water or a pacifier instead. With pediatric dentistry in Livermore, we’re dedicated to fighting baby bottle tooth decay. Let us know if you notice any signs of decay or anything unusual in your child’s mouth, and we’ll be happy to take a look.
The first step towards a beautiful, healthy smile is to schedule an appointment.
Please contact our office by phone or complete the appointment request form. Our scheduling coordinator will contact you to confirm your appointment.
Call us today (925) 447-7814