For a parent, nothing is more important than his or her children. You want your child’s teeth and gums to be protected so that they can develop into a strong smile. A child's dental health can greatly affect their overall health and we all want our children as healthy as can be. From the very first baby tooth to the last adult molar and beyond, Cantrell Family Dentistry sees children ages 6 months and up, providing comprehensive children’s general dentistry to Wylie, Texas and surrounding communities. When considering the right dental office to provide care for your family, keep in mind the importance of this decision and turn to a team that focuses experienced attention on dental care for not only you, but your children as well.
Dr. Sarah Cantrell (who prefers to go by Dr. Sarah) enjoys performing a variety of children’s general dentistry treatments at our Wylie family dental office. She focuses on techniques that help your child avoid cavities while keeping an eye on development to ensure that everything is coming along properly. How does Dr. Sarah achieve these goals? Through regular visits with your child at Cantrell Family Dentistry.
Your Child’s First Dental VisitFirst things first – your child’s first dental visit, that is. "First visit by first birthday" sums it up. Your child should visit the dentist when the first tooth appears, but no later than their first birthday, whether they have their first tooth or not. This means Dr. Sarah may begin seeing your child anywhere from 6 to 12 months of age. This first visit will help establish a dental home for your child. Early examination and preventive care will protect your child's smile now and in the future. This early visit also helps us educate you, the parent about your child's teeth and dental development and answer any questions or concerns you may have about them. The earlier the first children's general dentistry visit, the better the chance of preventing dental problems. Start your child now on a lifetime of good dental habits.
During this first visit, we’ll take a look at each of your child’s baby teeth, checking for signs of decay and looking to make sure that the bite is developing normally. Fluoride treatment will be offered as a preventive measure. We will also discuss with you the best ways for you to care for your child’s smile at home; at this point, your child will be too young to care for his or her own teeth, but there are things you can do to improve their oral health. This first visit also allows your child to get acquainted with the dental office and our staff. Dr. Sarah is great with kids, using a gentle touch and friendly, fun demeanor to erase any anxiety your little one might feel prior to the very first visit.
Children’s General Dentistry as Your Child AgesPrimary (or “baby”) teeth are important for many reasons. Not only do they help children speak clearly and chew naturally, they also aid in forming a path that permanent teeth can follow when they are ready to erupt. As your child ages, we’ll keep track of development, watching as baby teeth make way for adult teeth. As the adult teeth come in, preventive dentistry will include dental sealants as well as continued fluoride treatments. Dental sealants cover certain teeth, especially the back molars, to help keep decay-causing agents out of the crevices that cover the surface of these teeth, and fluoride helps your child’s enamel grow strong, reducing the risk of cavities. We’ll also educate your child on good brushing and flossing techniques.
Your child may encounter cavities at some point, and if this happens, we can provide dental restorations/fillings for them. Our staff strives to provide positive experiences in a gentle, caring manner and our office is designed to help keep children calm, comfortable and confident during their dental visits. Sometimes, however, a child may still feel anxious and need more support than a gentle, caring manner to feel comfortable. In these situations, Dr. Sarah recommends using nitrous oxide, which is a safe and effective sedative agent to calm a child’s fear of the visit and enhance effective communication. She believes in giving every child a positive dental experience and nitrous oxide use greatly enhances the dental visit for most children.
Although Dr. Sarah is very patient and confident in treating your child in the majority of situations, she wants to do what is best for your child. With this said, there will be instances where she may decide to refer your child to a specialist, such as when general anesthesia is indicated. General anesthesia may be indicated for children with extensive dental needs who are extremely uncooperative, fearful, or anxious or for the very young who do not understand how to cope in a cooperative fashion. If a referral is necessary, Dr. Sarah will discuss this with you at the appropriate time.
It is recommended for your child to have dental checkups at least twice a year. With regular children's general dentistry visits to Cantrell Family Dentistry, your child can receive comprehensive children's general dentistry, improving his or her chances of becoming an adult with his or her smile intact. It is our goal to motivate your child to take responsibility for a healthy smile in a fun, encouraging manner and environment.
For complete children’s general dentistry, including emergency care for those times when accidents happen, contact Cantrell Family Dentistry in Wylie, Texas. We welcome families from Sachse and Murphy as well.