National Children's Dental Health Month!

February is the official National Children's Dental Health Month, as recognized by the ADA. Thousand Oaks Family Dentistry will be rolling out weekly topics relating to pediatric dentistry all month long. Make sure to check back regularly to catch all the great information. 

For our first topic, we would like to discuss your child's first dental appointment. This visit should take place place at one year of age or when the first tooth erupts (Usually the mandibular incisors at 6-12 months). The first appointment serves as an important introduction for future dental care. Our office reserves this time to examine the mouth for any developmental problems and have a discussion on oral health with the parents. There are typically no x-rays or cleanings at this visit- just a checkup!

Just as important as the actual examination, this type of appointment sets the stage for a lifetime of positive dental experiences. Many less fortunate children will first see a dentist when they have a toothache and will forever associate the pain, confusion and anxiety with dental offices. We hope to start your children off with a fun and easy appointment that gets them excited to return for cleanings and exams! If you would like to know more about the dental services we provide for children or to book an appointment for your young ones, please give our office a call!

Dentistry and Children's Teeth

If you ever took a fall or had a cavity as a child, you're probably thankful that we get two sets of teeth. Our primary dentition can certainly seem like a second chance to recover from youthful mishaps. You may be wondering why, if adult teeth will eventually take their place, do we perform restorative dental procedures on kids teeth? Crowns, fillings and even braces may seem excessive when you could simply "extract and wait" for the adult teeth to come in. On the contrary, primary teeth serve a number of important roles in establishing a healthy adult dentitition. 

One of the most basic goals of primary teeth is to hold space for the permanent teeth. They create markers for where the adult teeth need to erupt and keep adjacent teeth from crowding into the open spaces. Once you lose a primary tooth, the teeth on either side can start to drift into its space, blocking the adult tooth from eruption. Many times, children who lose a primary tooth prematurely will receive a space maintainer- a cemented retainer that keeps two teeth from coming closer together.

Primary teeth also play an important role in the development of the jawbones. This is the guiding principle behind interceptive orthodontics, where braces and orthodontic appliances are placed on baby teeth. By ensuring these teeth are in ideal locations, an orthodontist can guide the development of the jaws and palate while lessening the need for future adjustment. 

Beyond the developmental importance of primary teeth, they are critical in psychological and social factors as well. Missing multiple anterior teeth can be embarrassing or humiliating, particularly when children are not at the appropriate age of tooth loss. Moreover, the posterior teeth are important in chewing and processing food. Without the ability to chew, we miss out on important nutrients in our diet. Molars allow us to break down food, increase surface area and ultimately facilitate healthy digestion. 

In short, the primary teeth are an incredibly important part of childhood development. With this in mind, dentists do all they can to maintain these teeth through their healthy lifespans. If you want to know more about childhood dentition, the importance of brushing and flossing or dental development, please give our office a call!

Family Day at Thousand Oaks Family Dentistry

This week we celebrated family day at our office. Staff members brought in their spouses, parents and children for exams and cleanings. We are proud to announce that everyone passed with flying colors! It's always wonderful to catch up with loved ones and make sure that their pearly whites shine! If you want to bring your own family by and join in on the fun, call or email our office today to schedule and appointment. 

Happy Birthday Duke!

Duke will be turning one year old this week and already has 8 of his primary teeth! The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that all children have their first dental visit by 12 months to ensure that development is continuing normally. If your youngster needs his first checkup, give our office a call!

Adrienne And Her Daughters

At Thousand Oaks Family Dentistry, we always love seeing our staff's children at the office. This week, our hygienist Adrienne's daughters Kamdin and Rylin came in to see their mom at work (and get some cleanings out of the way). Be sure to give us a call when you or your little ones are ready to stop by!

Brushing Duke's Teeth

Here you can really see his first two teeth!

What a great moment caught on video! Here is Dr. Kari's son Duke having his teeth brushed for the first time. His two lower teeth came in at 6 months and now at 7 months they are almost fully erupted. They get brushed twice a day with a children's toothbrush soaked in water. He loves holding the brush and sucking the water off the bristles. We can't wait to share more dental milestones to come!

Dental Questions: Are my child's front teeth coming in normally?

Here, you can see the child's permanent teeth erupting behind the similar baby tooth. 

We often get calls to our office from parents concerned that their child's adult teeth are coming in behind or in front of the corresponding primary tooth. This can create a "shark tooth" appearance that looks to be preventing the permanent tooth from coming in straight. On the contrary, a retained primary tooth is usually not a problem and will come out on it's own. The permanent tooth should "push" the baby tooth out enough that it becomes loose. If the permanent tooth is fully erupted and the baby tooth still isn't loose, a dentist will usually extract the primary tooth before a problem arises. 

Dr. Kari's son Duke with his two mandibular primary central incisors erupting. These are usually the first teeth to appear.

Likewise, the mandibular primary central incisors are the first baby teeth to be lost (notice the permanent tooth erupting it its place). 

Retained teeth are usually a problem localized to the mandibular and maxillary incisors (four front teeth). The two mandibular primary central incisors are the first teeth to erupt at about six months. Subsequently, they are the first baby teeth lost at five to six years. They make way for the mandibular permanent central incisors, which typically erupt at ages six to seven. You can definitely see how a small overlap in timing can create the "double tooth" problem. 

Overall, any concerns with your child's dentition should be brought up at their yearly checkup. We pride ourselves in being an educational and informative office and want you to leave with peace-of-mind.  If you have any concerns with your family's oral health, please call our office!

Office Construction: Almost Done!

Construction is officially wrapping up at Thousand Oaks Family Dentistry. The crew is putting the final touches on paint, flooring and fixtures. We got to spend a little time at the office this weekend to enjoy our new look. Here you can see Duke (Dr. Kari's son) with Katie and Jonathan (Michael's wife and son). A true family affair! Even though we are still finishing work, our phones are open to any of your questions or concerns. Just give us a call!

Office Construction: Before Pictures

Enjoy these "before" pictures, because our office is getting a new look! Construction is underway to make Thousand Oaks Family Dentistry an even more inviting and relaxing space. In addition to new flooring, paint and decorations, we will be adding a formal consultation room just off of our front desk. The remodel is scheduled to finish August 2nd, and we can barely wait!

Happy Easter from Thousand Oaks Family Dentistry!

We hope you had a great Easter Sunday surrounded by your family and loved ones. For those still in school, enjoy your spring break. Just one more semester/quarter until summer! This year, Dr. Kari Hong and her family traveled to Maui, Hawaii for a much deserved vacation. Here, they are photoed in front of the Lahaina United Methodist Church where they attended Easter Service. Locally, the Hongs are very involved with the United Methodist Church of Thousand Oaks. Consider this a big "Aloha" from our office to you!