Frequently Asked Questions
When Should My Child First See a Dentist?
As a rule of thumb, your child should visit the dentist no later than six months after they get their first tooth, or before their first birthday, depending on which comes earliest. The sooner that they receive their first dental visit, the easier it is to identify tooth problems when they first develop and address them before they get out of hand. Early visits also allow us to determine whether your child has any unique dental care needs, such as requiring specialized toothpaste. Finally, visiting the dentist at the beginning of their life helps your child to become comfortable with such visits while developing good dental care habits, setting the stage for long-term oral health.
What’s a First Dental Visit Like?
First visits to the dentist tend to be quick and simple. The goal is to get a sense of your child’s oral health while helping them feel more comfortable and trusting toward dental care. Typically, we will begin by examining their teeth, paying attention to their bite and jaw while looking out for any signs of dental decay. We will also clean your child’s teeth gently but thoroughly. Finally, we will give you instructions on how to take care of your child’s teeth, taking into account whether
they need extra fluoride or other enhancements. Depending on how comfortable your child is with the dentist, we may ask you to stay in the room with them for the entire visit.
What Dental Problems Can My Child Have?
Children can develop a wide range of dental problems at an early age. The most common ones include:
● Misalignment- Through thumb sucking, lip sucking, tongue thrusting, and other habits, your child can put pressure on their teeth, forcing them out of alignment. This makes it more likely that they’ll need braces in the future.
● Decay- Children who nurse for too long sometimes expose their teeth to too much sugar, causing those teeth to decay and fall out.
● Tooth Loss- Due to injury, decay, or other issues, your child may lose a baby tooth long before the adult ones come in. This can cause the other teeth to fall out of alignment.
Mann Family Dental has the experience and resources to prevent these problems and all others, and to help your child recover fully if they do have such an issue.
How Often Should an Individual Have Dental X-ray Films?
Your need for dental X-rays varies based on the overall health of your teeth. If you are suffering from or have recently suffered from a gum or dental disease, you may need regular X-rays, perhaps as frequently as twice a year. But if your teeth are generally in good health, you may not need them for years at a time. Remember that there are risks to receiving X-rays, namely being exposed to harmful radiation, so you shouldn’t get them when they aren’t necessary. Talk to your dentist about the best time for you or your child to get these examinations.
What Insurances Do You Accept?
Mann Family Dental accepts payment from a wide range of different insurance plans and carriers, including Moda, Cigna, Metlife, Premera, GEHA, United Concordia and more. We also offer a number of options to make your care as affordable as possible, whether you’re paying with insurance or out of pocket. This includes a $175 dental package, which gets you an X-ray and other examination services, along with a cleaning. Our goal is to make quality dental care as affordable and accessible as possible, so that Alaskans of all ages can keep their teeth in good shape.