When should my child first see a dentist?

The American Dental Association advises a first dental visit after the first tooth comes through and no later than the first birthday. Cavities can develop as soon as baby teeth appear, so early checks help.

Do baby teeth need fillings if they will fall out anyway?

Baby teeth can get cavities as soon as they come through and need preventive care. Whether a decayed baby tooth is filled depends on the tooth, the size of the decay and how long it has before it falls out, so the dentist decides tooth by tooth.

How much toothpaste should my child use?

Children under 3 need a smear of fluoride toothpaste about the size of a grain of rice, and children aged 3 to 6 need a pea-sized amount. An adult should put it on the brush and supervise brushing to limit swallowing.

Is fluoride varnish suitable for children under six?

Yes, for children under six the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends single-dose fluoride varnish as the professionally applied fluoride. Tell the dental team first if your child has recently needed hospital care for severe asthma or allergy, or is allergic to sticking plasters, because some varnishes contain colophony.

What are fissure sealants and does my child need them?

Fissure sealants are thin protective coatings over the grooves of the chewing surfaces of back teeth that are at risk of decay. They are considered for sound molars or molars with early decay that has not formed a hole, so the dentist decides after checking each tooth.

How often should my child have a dental check-up?

There is no single schedule that suits every child. The gap between check-ups is set according to your child's risk of decay and stage of development.

Children's Dentistry in Solapur

Q: Will my child need dental X-rays at every check-up?

No. Dental X-rays are not taken just because of age or at every visit; they are considered after the history and examination when they can help diagnose decay, an injury or a development question, with radiation kept as low as possible.

Children's dentistry looks after your child's teeth from the first baby tooth onwards, checking how the teeth and jaws are developing, finding decay early and helping you keep teeth healthy at home. At Deshpande Dental in Solapur, children are seen by Dr Rucha Deshpande, and each check-up is adapted to your child's age, needs and comfort.

When should your child first see a dentist?

After the first baby tooth appears, and no later than the first birthday. That is the American Dental Association's advice on a baby's first dental visit, because cavities can develop as soon as baby teeth come through.

What happens at a children's dental check-up

A young child may sit on your lap while the dentist looks. The check covers:

the teeth, gums and soft tissues of the mouth
how the teeth and jaws are developing, and how the teeth meet
decay, any injury to the mouth, any pain, and how likely decay is in future

You also get advice on daily tooth care, food and drinks, and habits such as thumb-sucking. How well your child can cooperate shapes what is checked and how treatment is planned.

Will my child need X-rays? Not at every visit, and not because of age alone. X-rays are considered after the history and examination when they can help diagnose decay, an injury or a development question, with radiation kept as low as possible.

Brushing at home: how much toothpaste?

Young children need supervised brushing with an age-appropriate amount of fluoride toothpaste:

under 3 years: a smear, about the size of a grain of rice
3 to 6 years: a pea-sized amount

Put the toothpaste on the brush yourself and watch the brushing to limit swallowing. Swallowing too much fluoride while teeth are still forming can cause dental fluorosis, a condition of the developing tooth enamel; the risk depends on the amount, duration and age.

Fluoride varnish for children

Fluoride helps prevent and control tooth decay. Professionally applied fluoride comes as a varnish or gel; the product and frequency depend on your child's age, decay risk and fluoride from other sources. For children under six, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends single-dose fluoride varnish as the professionally applied fluoride, for safety reasons.

What it is like: the teeth are dried, then a little varnish is painted on with a soft brush. The coating may look golden for a while.

Before it is applied: tell the dental team if your child has recently needed hospital care for severe asthma or an allergy, or is allergic to sticking plasters, because some varnishes contain colophony (a natural resin) and an alternative may be chosen.

Afterwards: follow the eating and brushing instructions you are given. Soft food or drinks may be allowed after about 30 minutes, while brushing or hard food may need to wait several hours, depending on the product. If your child has a problem or a possible allergic reaction, contact the dental team.

Fissure sealants: protecting the chewing grooves

A fissure sealant is a thin protective coating over at-risk grooves on the chewing surfaces of back teeth (molars). The ADA and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry sealant guideline supports sealants to prevent decay or stop early decay progressing on the chewing surfaces of baby and adult (permanent) molars in children and teenagers.

Which teeth: sound molars, or molars with early decay that has not yet formed a hole. A tooth that already has a cavity needs its own treatment assessment.
How it is placed: for a resin sealant, the tooth is cleaned and kept dry, the surface is prepared and the coating is hardened with a light. Steps vary with the material.
Which material: sealants can be resin or another material. No one material has been shown to be right for every child; whether the tooth can be kept dry partly decides.
Limits: sealants can wear, so they are checked and repaired or reapplied when needed, and an allergy to a sealant material is possible. They add to brushing and cleaning between the teeth rather than replacing it.

New tooth pain or visible tooth damage after a sealant needs a check before the next routine visit.

If your child needs a filling

When decay has not reached the nerve, a child's filling visit may include numbing gel and local anaesthetic, a thin rubber sheet (rubber dam) to keep the tooth dry, removing the decay and a filling, usually tooth-coloured. The dentist chooses these for your child and tooth.

A tooth-coloured composite filling can be an option for baby and adult back teeth. It may not suit a tooth that cannot be kept dry or a child who cannot cooperate, and a large cavity in a baby back tooth may need another approach, such as a stainless-steel crown (a visible metal cap). A tooth with more decay than expected may need removal instead. Fillings in baby teeth may fail more often than in adult teeth, and a filling alone does not stop the decay process, so prevention still matters. Read more about tooth-coloured fillings.

If your child's mouth is numb afterwards, offer food or drink that needs no chewing until the feeling returns.

When to get your child seen urgently

Do not wait for a check-up if your child has toothache, facial swelling, signs of infection or mouth bleeding that will not stop. After dental treatment, pain that does not improve with the advised care, increasing swelling, a fever or a broken filling also need a prompt check.

If a permanent (adult) tooth is knocked out, your child needs dental attention immediately. A knocked-out baby tooth is handled differently, but any injury to a child's teeth or mouth still needs timely dental assessment rather than waiting for a routine check-up. If your child has difficulty breathing, go for emergency medical care.

Choosing a child dentist in Solapur

At Deshpande Dental, children's dentistry is provided with Dr Rucha Deshpande, BDS, MDS (Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics), whose services include tooth-coloured fillings. The practice has cared for patients in Solapur since 2014, with three clinics in the city: Civil Chowk, Antrolikar Nagar and Jule Solapur. Whether you need a kids dentist for a first visit or a specific worry, you are welcome to book.