How can I prevent Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?
By not allowing your baby to breast or bottle feed while sleeping, you can help immensely! Hold your baby while bottle feeding and if the baby needs a bottle at bedtime, fill it with water, or replace the bottle with a pacifier or toy. Our office is equipped to fight Baby Bottle Tooth Decay by providing fluoride treatments and assessing the amount of fluoride your child is getting at home. Of course, brushing your baby's teeth daily is very important.


Is thumb sucking a problem?
Thumb and finger sucking is very normal for infants, usually diminishing by the age of 2. Once your child approaches an age of 5-6 years, his/her permanent teeth will soon be erupting, and prolonged sucking at this age can lead to crowded teeth, crooked teeth, or bite problems.


When does my baby start teething?
The normal time for the first tooth to come in is between 6-12 months. Occasional sore gums may exist until the age of 3, and a cold spoon, teething ring, or a cold wet washcloth or toothbrush may effectively sooth the gums.


What is a teething ring?
Teething rings are small fluid filled 'rings' which are kept chilled and are effective at soothing your child's sore gums while he/she is teething.


Does my child need to see a pedodontist (child dentist)?
As a general dentist, I am one of many general dentists trained to provide thorough and comforting dental care for children. Pedodontists are specialists who see only children and may be appropriate for you as well. Our clinic is happy to assist you in the future dental health of your child.


What happens at my baby's first dental visit?
Often, the first visit is simply an introduction to our office. Since every child's comfort level at the dentist's office is different, we assess each child individually and proceed at the appropriate rate. As a dentist, I understand how very important it is to first build a child's trust. If possible, I will then often ask you, the parent, to sit in the dental chair with your child in your lap. As your child's comfort level grows, a gentle approach will then consist of examining the teeth, gums, and bite so that we can monitor the changes as your child grows. A gentle cleaning and instruction on how to clean your child's teeth at home will also be included, as indicated.


When does my baby start teething?
The normal time for the first tooth to come in is between 6-12 months.


As a parent, what should I be concerned about?
The most prevalent problem for infants is Rampant Caries or Nursing bottle caries. Babies who sleep with a baby bottle filled with any sugary drink or who breast feed for long periods as they sleep are highly susceptible to tooth decay. You can help your baby fight the early onset on cavities by bringing him/her to the dentist early. The dentist has preventive measures such as fluoride treatments which can help your baby develop healthy teeth.


What is root canal treatment (RCT)?
A tooth, which has been damaged by caries or injury to the extent that the nerve of the tooth has been involved, cannot be simply filled. The procedure to remove the damaged nerve and infection from the root canal and surrounding bone is called root canal treatment. If the tooth is vital or partially vital the first sitting of root canal requires administration of local anesthesia. It may be a single sitting or a multi-sitting procedure and invariably the tooth needs to be caped later.


What to do when milk teeth do not fall and permanent erupt?
Depending on the type of eruption of permanent teeth the milk teeth which are over retained nee to be extracted, The alignment of permanent teeth after that is normally a self correcting process some times orthodontic intervention (depending on the age of the patient) is required.


How do we whitened our teeth ?
It is normally believed that scaling (cleaning of teeth) causes teeth to whiten. This is incorrect. Scaling can clean only the extrinsic (outside) deposits but can not remove the intrinsic yellowish ness of the teeth. A procedure called bleaching has to be carried out which can be done in the dental clinic or a t home.


What is the right age of Orthodontic treatment?
There is no fixed time for orthodontic treatment. Depending on the age and type of problem orthodontic correction can be done. Minor corrections can be carried out at an early age but the best time for fixed braces is between eleven and sixteen years. It can be carried out once the canine starts showing.


Does extraction of teeth disturbs vision?
There is no correlation between the disturbance of vision and the extraction of teeth. It has been proven time and again.


Does cleaning cause weakness of teeth?
Cleaning of teeth causes no weakness of teeth. Only if the support to the teeth is with the tartar is to be cleaned that they tend to become loose when the tartar is removed.


For more info and question Please mail me at Dentist@gulatisclinic.com