Children’s Dentist Keeping Young Ann Arbor Smiles Healthy
A Great Starting Point for Growing Smiles
Children need to visit their local dentist just as often as adults do (twice each year) for ongoing oral health care. In fact, it may be MORE important because establishing a positive relationship with a dental team from a young age can influence your outlook on dentistry for many years to come! Dr. Dina Cocco and the rest of our staff members are as friendly as they come, promoting comfort and kindness every step of the way through your loved one’s care. We love giving children new reasons to smile, and we hope you’ll bring the whole family to visit us. Contact our Ann Arbor, MI, location today to schedule an appointment!
Why Choose Cocco Dental for Children’s Dentistry?
- Dentist Serving Ann Arbor Patients Since 1990
- Dental Team Creates a Fun, Child-Friendly Environment
- Affordable Payment Options Available
What Exactly is Children’s Dentistry?
At every stage of your child’s growth – from the very first baby tooth to the arrival of their wisdom teeth – our team will personalize our approach to fit their needs, comfort level, and emotional maturity. We’ll start slowly by providing very gentle checkups before progressing to cleanings and other services designed to prevent problems as they grow. For instance, dental sealants and fluoride treatment are a big part of children’s dentistry, as they help growing smiles stay safe from decay and become stronger.
When it comes to helping your child feel comfortable here in our Ann Arbor office, it’s important to stay positive about the experience. Maybe let them tag along on an older sibling’s visit so that they see there’s nothing to be afraid of, or bring along a favorite toy that they can hold onto when they’re nervous. Meanwhile, our team will do everything we can to make them smile and laugh from the start of their appointment to the end. We look forward to building a warm and trusting relationship with your son or daughter that we hope will last for years to come!
How Often Should My Child Visit the Dentist?
You should expect to bring your child in for a standard dental checkup and cleaning every six months, unless otherwise instructed. These biannual visits allow Dr. Cocco and our team to look for early signs of cavities and dental damage while also monitoring tooth eruption and bite alignment. We maintain a caring, gentle, and compassionate approach so that your child and other young patients feel comfortable having their teeth cleaned, and as they learn to better care for their oral health and hygiene.
How Can I Protect My Child’s Teeth?
Your child’s back teeth – premolars and molars – are often the hardest to reach when brushing, so they remain vulnerable to food debris and bacterial buildup because of their chewing surfaces. These pits and grooves need extra protection, which is why Dr. Cocco offers dental sealants. As thin coatings that are applied to the surfaces of these teeth, dental sealants can create a barrier that shields tooth enamel from possible cavities for up to 10 years.
Learn More About Dental Sealants
How Can My Child’s Teeth Be Strengthened?
If your child is at risk for cavities, it can be helpful to allow our team to apply fluoride treatment to their teeth during a regular checkup and cleaning appointment. Fluoride is a natural mineral commonly found in tap water, soil, various foods, and toothpaste. It can strengthen tooth enamel through remineralization and combat tooth decay, and it can be applied in minutes, leaving teeth better protected between appointments.
Learn More About Fluoride Treatment
What is an Oral Cancer Screening?
Although it is rare for a child to develop oral cancer, it is not impossible, which is why our team performs oral cancer screening during six-month visits. As a completely painless and efficient service, we provide a comprehensive examination by Dr. Cocco of your child’s or teen’s teeth, lips, gums, throat, neck, head, and tongue to determine whether any abnormalities exist. If so, she will recommend further treatment by a qualified physician to ensure timely care.
How Can I Protect My Child’s Smile While Playing Sports?
Regardless of whether your avid athlete enjoys playing baseball, basketball, or football, or likes being physically active through running, hiking, or bicycling, it’s important that they wear proper mouth protection. With a custom-made athletic mouthguard, a cushioned barrier can be the difference between staying in the game and leaving early to visit the emergency dentist’s office. Absorbing the impact of a hard hit or an unexpected fall makes these mouthguards highly effective at keeping smiles safe and intact.
Learn More About Athletic Mouthguards
Children’s Dentistry FAQs
What should I use to clean my baby’s teeth?
When your baby’s teeth begin to grow in, you should use a small, soft-bristled toothbrush to gently remove plaque and bacteria. It’s important to buy a toothbrush made for children, as they have soft, gentle bristles and a smaller head that’s more comfortable to fit in their mouth.
What happens during a baby’s first dental appointment?
During your baby’s first appointment with Dr. Cocco and our team, we’ll have them sit in your lap so they feel comfortable. We make them laugh, have fun, and focus on creating a truly positive first experience for them so they look forward to coming back. We’ll also have a look in their mouth to make sure everything is okay. Then, when they’re about two years old, they typically feel comfortable enough to complete a full examination and cleaning either on their own, or in the parent’s lap.
When will my child’s teeth grow in?
On average, the first baby tooth that erupts is usually around six months old. Their baby teeth will continue growing in until between two and three years old, then their molars will erupt around the age of six. It’s also around this age that their baby teeth begin to naturally fall out on their own to make way for their adult teeth.
What foods are good for a child’s teeth?
There are several different types of food that would be great to incorporate into your child’s diet to help minimize their risk of dental problems like cavities. Instead of lunch foods and snacks that are rich in carbohydrates, like potato chips, gummies, and cookies, try substituting fresh fruits and vegetables and cheese sticks (or other foods that are rich in calcium). These help naturally clean the teeth of plaque and strengthen their enamel, which helps protect against decay.
What are the benefits of fluoride treatments for kids?
Fluoride has been shrouded in mystery and misinformation in recent years, so it can be difficult to be able to tell fact from fiction. Fluoride was originally added to municipal water sources because it has been clinically proven to strengthen tooth enamel and protect against cavities. In fact, the CDC named fluoridated drinking water one of the top 10 great public health inventions of the 20th century due to the dramatic decline of cavities that it led to.
When it comes to fluoride treatment at the dental office, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, as well as the American Dental Association, encourages professionally-applied fluoride treatment for children to minimize cavity development. Dr. Cocco and our team are happy to help you learn more about fluoride and answer any questions you may have.