Oral Hygiene for Kids

We know that getting your young ones to keep their teeth clean can be a challenge. However, the effort is definitely worth it: healthy baby teeth assist in the proper positioning and development of the adult dentition. Not to mention starting your children off young sets them up for a lifetime of great oral health, often saving thousands of dollars in dental expenses. Read on to discover how to maximize the protective factors for your child's teeth!

The first baby teeth typically erupt into the mouth between 6 and 18 months. Prior to this, we suggest keeping your child's mouth clean with a wet cloth. Once the teeth erupt, you should start brushing twice a day with a rice-grain sized smear of fluoride toothpaste. After two teeth grow in next to each other, you can begin flossing in this area. At about three years, you can start brushing with a pea-sized portion of paste.  Remember, children typically lack the dexterity to brush and floss their own teeth until they can tie their own shoes. Be careful to monitor how much toothpaste that they are using and make sure they are not swallowing excessive paste. 

The bacteria responsible for tooth decay colonize children at a young age (usually under the age of three). New research suggests that sharing utensils or cleaning dropped pacifiers and bottles with spit during this period can prematurely introduce these bacteria to a child's mouth. While there is a near 100% chance that these bacteria will eventually colonize everyone, delaying them as long as possible may prevent the number and extent of cavities. Once your child is old enough to rinse and spit without swallowing, you can add a fluoride rinse like ACT brand to double down on cavity prevention. 

We recommend bringing your child in for their first dental visit at 12 months of age or when all four central incisors are erupted (whichever is first). This is a short appointment for a general exam and to introduce your child to the dental office setting. If you would like to know more about cavity prevention, children's oral health or dental development, please give our office a call!

Dental Sealants

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. 

While Dental Sealants are appropriate for patients of all ages, they are most commonly placed on kids and teens to maximize their preventative ability. The pit and groove patterns of the chewing teeth create near-perfect food traps. In fact, they are often so deep and narrow that toothbrush bristles cannot reach the furthest depths. Bacteria can then grow in these areas undisturbed and fueled by a constant food source. This is the general pattern behind cavities on the biting (occlusal) surfaces of teeth.  

Sealants interrupt this process by physically filling in the deepest parts of these pits and grooves. With the space gone, the risk of developing cavities in these areas is significantly decreased. The process of placing a sealant takes about 45 minutes (depending on the number of teeth) and does not require a shot. We start by cleaning the teeth with gentle air abrasion. Once the teeth are free of saliva, bacteria and food, we place the material into all deep grooves. The procedure is finished by checking the patient's bite and making sure the sealant is well bonded to the tooth. 

It is important to understand that sealants only protect against decay on the biting surfaces of the teeth. Cavities between the teeth (another common area) are only prevented by proper brushing and flossing. Additionally, it is worth noting that sealants can fall off over time and are much more likely to fail if the patient's home care is insufficient. As always, the key is brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing daily. If you have any more questions about sealants, what they do or why we place them, 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!

Pediatric and Orthodontic Offices We Work With

Providing care for children is one of the most challenging and sensitive aspect of dentistry. Kids react to the office setting within an entire spectrum of behavior; from eager and inquisitive to scared and frustrated. We have designed our office to be as welcoming as possible for your young ones with toys, cable TV (Nick, Nick Jr., Disney, etc.) and even a dedicated kid's room (seen in the background of the title photo). Still, there are times that we need to rely on our network of specialists to best meet the needs of your individual child. 

We are proud to work with Dr. Ahsan Raza of 1000 Oaks Children's Dental Group. On top of specialized behavioral management techniques, Dr. Raza prides himself in being an extremely communicative and personal pediatric dentist. He uses a number of techniques, ranging from education to sedation to ensure the best possible dental outcomes. Your kids will love his spaceship themed office too!

In terms of orthodontic offices, we are proud to work with Doctors Nagel Sr. and Nagel Jr. of Nagel Orthodontics and Dr. William Hang of Face Focused Orthodontics. Norm and Jeffrey Nagel bring together over 40 years of experience in orthodontics and pride themselves in combining the best parts of digital and hands-on dentistry. Likewise, Dr. Hang has spent his career developing the Face Focused program, an orthodontic system that develops straight teeth while respecting posture and opening airways. 

If you would like to know more about our fantastic network of specialists, please give us a call. We want our patients to know they are in good hands, whether with us or one of our specialists.

Link to Dr. Raza's office

Link to Dr. Nagel and Nagel's office

Link to Dr. Hang's office

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!

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!

Specialist Spotlight- 1000 Oaks Childrens Dental Group

At Thousand Oaks Family Dentistry, we are proud of the network of skilled dental specialists we have created. Whether you are in our office or one of our associates’ offices, know that you will be treated with respect, kindness and experience. Today, we would like to highlight 1000 Oaks Childrens Dental Group, the office of Dr. Ahsan Raza.

As a pediatric dentist, Dr. Raza offers a wide variety of services and techniques that address the needs of younger patients. His office specializes in creating a positive experience that leaves children enthusiastic about their dental health. Dr. Raza prides himself on developing this environment through effective communication to both patients and parents. Education, personalized care and interactive treatment allow children to become relaxed and engaged throughout the dental appointment. For parents, a small office atmosphere and emphasis on safety and sterilization provide confidence and peace of mind.

Beyond communication, Dr. Raza manages children’s dental anxiety through a number of other techniques. The first thing you will notice upon entering his office is the fantastic and immersive spaceship theme. From the waiting room to the post-treatment toys, nearly every aspect of your child’s appointment will have an astronautical flavor. The extensive theming helps create a fun environment that distracts from the actual dentistry. The treatment rooms are also equipped with televisions, movies and video games to further entertain and divert attention. In addition, Dr. Raza will utilize a number of sedation methods for particularly fearful children. Nitrous oxide, oral sedation and IV sedation are all utilized to ensure the best possible treatment outcomes.

We love working with Dr. Raza because of his communication expertise and focus on prevention. This combination allows your child’s dental needs to be addressed appropriately and in a timely manner. If you would like to know more about 1000 Oaks Childrens Dental Group or any other of our fantastic specialists, please give us a call.  We want our patients to know they are in good hands, whether with us or one of our specialists.

Dentistry Through the Ages- Toddlers and Young Children

Greetings and welcome to our on-going blog series, Dentistry Through the Ages. In these blog posts, we will cover age-group specific dental needs and concerns. Your life is constantly changing, and we want to equip you with the best information possible to keep your teeth healthy!

Today, we want to take a look at the special dental needs and concerns of toddlers and young children. During this time period, your young one will undergo rapid growth and development, both physically and mentally. At Thousand Oaks Family Dentistry, we want to give you the best tools to keep up with their changing needs!

There are a number of milestones that can help you best gauge your child’s dental development. Typically, the first primary teeth to erupt will be the central lower incisors at around 8 months. These will be followed shortly after by opposing teeth, the upper central incisors at about 10 months. Likewise, the last primary teeth to be shed are the upper canines and second molars, which are lost as late as 12 years.

A chart showing the eruption and shedding ages for primary teeth. 

It becomes apparent that although the primary teeth will all be eventually be shed and replaced, they need to last a long time- from 5 to 10 years depending on the specific tooth. During this period, these teeth will serve as both mechanical tools for chewing and as placeholders for the adult teeth. It is important that primary teeth are lost naturally and not due to facial trauma or decay. If a tooth must be removed prematurely, we recommend placing a Space Maintainer retention device to hold spacing. Without this appliance, the adult teeth can come in crooked or unevenly, requiring extensive orthodontic intervention later in life.

A typical space maintainer on a model. The final appliance is gently cemented to the rearward tooth. 

Beyond the development of primary teeth and adult teeth, there are a number of ways you can give your young child the best start on their dental health. At 1 year of age, we recommend stopping the use of bottles and pacifiers. Studies show that the prolonged use of these products can cause improper oral development, including an open bite. You can limit pacifier use using the “snip” method, where a small amount of the pacifier base is cut off periodically, limiting your child’s ability to create satisfying suction with the device. Thumb sucking needs to be limited as well, although behavioral interventions required to stop this are usually unsuccessful until the age of 3.

We recommend brushing your child’s teeth as soon as the first teeth begin to erupt. You can brush with water, fluoride-free toothpaste or even xylitol wipes. However, avoid fluoridated toothpaste and supplements until age 2, as the fluoridated water in Southern California will provide enough remineralization power alone. Any extra dosage of the ion can cause a condition called fluorosis, where white spots of “over mineralization” arise on the still-developing adult teeth.

At about three years of age, adjacent teeth in your child’s mouth will begin to touch. At this time, it is crucial to start flossing once a day. Childhood diets are full of tooth decay causing foods and habits- constant snacking, sticky and carbohydrate heavy foods and milk instead of water for beverage. While brushing will manage the risk of decay on most tooth surfaces, only flossing can remove bacteria and food from in-between teeth, where 70% of childhood tooth decay occurs. Additionally, keep in mind that brushing and flossing can be difficult tasks for children. As a rule of thumb, children not possess the motor skills to brush their own teeth until they can tie their own shoes.

We typically recommend children come in for their first dental visit at 1 year of age or when their first tooth comes (around 6-12mos). This visit is less of a traditional exam, and more of a “primer” for future dental visits. We will introduce your child to our various tools and ease them into what can be a very stressful setting. Depending on patient compliance, we will do a quick check of the mouth, followed by a health history review and educational discussion (for parents). All this is conducted in our fun and imaginative children’s room!

Undoubtedly, your child’s specific developmental patterns, needs and concerns will vary from the information in this article. With this in mind, it is imperative that they come in for regular dental examinations and check-ups. Many problems- from tooth decay to some developmental issues, can be corrected easily if caught early on. We hope to see you and your loved ones at our office- to make sure everyone is on the right track for dental success!

Dentistry Through the Ages: Infants and Newborns

Greetings and welcome to our on-going blog series, Dentistry Through the Ages. In these blog posts, we will cover age-group specific dental needs and concerns. Your life is constantly changing, and we want to equip you with the best information possible to keep your teeth healthy!

    Today, we want to address the dental concerns of families with newborns and infants. We know this can be an exciting and stressful time, with childcare advice coming from many (sometimes conflicting) sources. Hence, we want to ease your mind with our professional and scientifically proven advice on proper newborn dental care.

    Infant dental concerns actually begin during the prenatal months. Studies have shown that women with periodontal disease are at a higher risk for low birth weight and early term infants. It is important to minimize this concern by keeping up with your regular dental cleanings before and during pregnancy. Additionally, hormonal changes, increased snacking and morning sickness all put pregnant women at a significantly higher risk for tooth decay. We recommend that all of our pregnant patients pay special attention to their oral health and consider supplementing their current home care with further preventative products, such as xylitol rinses or chews.

    You can start your newborn on the path to great oral hygiene even before their teeth start to erupt. An important fact to remember is that oral bacteria is often transferred from caregivers to their children. Avoid sharing saliva with your infant, as your bacteria can start to colonize their mouth and cause tooth decay at a very young age. In fact, studies show that the bacterial profile of mothers and children match, even before the baby teeth come in! Once teeth begin to show through the gums, you can clean them using a washcloth or xylitol wipes. After two or more teeth “touch,” you should start to floss between them.   

    Once the teeth begin to develop, it is important to never put your infant to sleep with a milk bottle. The milk will sit on the teeth all night and eventually cause rampant decay. In fact, the decay pattern of night time milk bottles is so characteristic, it has earned itself the title of “bottle mouth.”

The unfortunate consequences of "bottle mouth."

    Beyond toothcare, infancy is a period of rapid craniofacial development. While much of this will occur naturally, proper development can be encouraged. Breastfeeding has been shown to be beneficial to proper facial growth. Global studies show that breastfeeding during the first four months of infancy are particularly critical to lower jaw development.

    Your babies teeth need to stay healthy for as long as 13 years. Thus, it is very important that you protect them right from the beginning. On top of proper home care, we recommend you bring your child in for their first check up at 12 months. This can allow us to catch decay and developmental problems before they become a much larger issue. At Thousand Oaks Family Dentistry, we are prepared to see all of your family members, no matter what the age!