They may be small, but even kids can have big fears. Whether it’s monsters under the bed, apprehension about swimming, or anxiety about visiting the dentist, when your child is afraid, it can make even the most routine activities a challenge. Naturally, as a parent you want to ease their mind and bring them comfort. If they’re afraid of the dark, you can provide them with a nightlight. If they’re afraid of the water, they can wear a floatation device. But what happens when they need a dental exam? You can’t just let them skip their semi-annual checkup. Avoiding the dentist can worsen any existing dental problems, meaning by the time they do agree to a checkup, they may require more intervention than they would have if they’d gone sooner. This can in turn give them even more anxiety.

Thankfully, however, there is a solution. It’s called sedation dentistry, and it’s a safe and effective way to help ease some of your child’s dental anxiety so they feel relaxed enough to attend their dental appointment. Here’s how it works.

What is Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry is when your child’s dentist administers a sedative prior to their exam or procedure to lessen their anxiety. There are several types of sedation available, depending on how severe their symptoms are.

Here in America, we’re used to the tooth fairy wearing a little pink dress and fluttering into a child’s room to retrieve their lost tooth from beneath their pillow and leave a small gift as a reward. However, other cultures across the world have their own ways of celebrating this important and healthy part of growing up. Here’s some of the folklore surrounding the loss of baby teeth and how other cultures commemorate this passage into a new stage in life.

If you’re the parent or guardian of an infant or toddler, there’s a good chance your sleep schedule gets frequently interrupted. Babies and small children are notorious for waking up at all hours of the night for different reasons. You can often calm them with a bottle of milk or juice in bed to help them settle down so you can get some rest. However, doing so regularly could result in a condition known as baby bottle tooth decay.

If you’re not familiar with this issue, keep reading to learn more about it and how to prevent potential problems!

If you’re the parent or guardian of a child who’s about 6 years old, it probably won’t be long until you start noticing their baby teeth growing loose. This is typically when adult teeth start to grow in to replace them. Many kids get frustrated by their wiggling teeth because can hinder their ability to eat or speak. Others simply lose patience and grow annoyed waiting for their little pearly white to pop out. While well-wishers may have plenty of ideas, you don’t want them to do anything risky that would require a visit to their pediatric dentist.

If you’re hoping to help ease your child through this process, keep reading to learn 3 tips you can try to remove their wobbly tooth!

If you’re a parent, you probably have no trouble taking your child to the dentist when they have a toothache or if they happen to chip a tooth. While a dentist’s help is always welcome when your child’s oral health is in jeopardy, this isn’t the only time you should see them.

Arguably the most important appointments your child will have with their dentist are preventive, consisting of regular checkups and cleanings. This is because detecting oral health problems early is critical to keeping them manageable. Here’s why that is.

As kids grow into teenagers, they become more independent and confident in making their own choices. However, some decisions, like choosing a dentist, are still important for parents to make. While many teens might prefer an adult dentist, there are several reasons why they should stick with a pediatric one. Keep reading to discover three reasons why your teenager should continue seeing a pediatric dentist.

As a parent, one of your most significant roles is caring for the health and well-being of your child which includes their teeth and gums. Unfortunately, many kids get nervous about visiting their pediatric dentist, especially if it’s their first appointment and they aren’t sure what to expect. Did you know, though, that there are dental toys that can help? Keep reading to learn about 3 fun options that can help your little one learn how to better care for their teeth!

Every parent wants to ensure the oral health of their child. However, when it comes to children with special needs, there are unique challenges to consider. Understanding and addressing these challenges is important to provide dental care tailored to the individual needs of each child.

If you want to learn about common oral health issues that children with special needs face, continue reading. You’ll find the most common problems and strategies for managing them.

Now that Halloween is over, your child has a mountain of candy that they got from trick-or-treating at their disposal. The problem is, snacking on sweets for weeks on end is a recipe for a cavity-riddled household! To keep your favorite smile healthy and happy, read on for five post-Halloween oral health tips to ward off the lingering threat of decay.

A child’s first set of teeth is often thought of as a practice set that gives them a chance to make mistakes before the permanent smile comes in. Since kids are prone to eating too much sugar and often reluctant to brush, they might develop cavities on one or more of their baby teeth. The parents of such a child might ask, “Since the tooth is going to fall out anyway, does our child really need a filling?” Read on to find out about whether baby teeth need fillings along with ways to prevent cavities in young children.