Frequently Asked Pediatric Dental Questions – Coppell, TX

When Should My Child Start Seeing a Dentist?

The ADA recommends that you schedule your child’s first visit by 12 months of age, or else within 6 months of the first tooth erupting. The risk of cavities developing rises significantly the longer you wait, so don’t lose any time in getting your child started on regular checkups and cleanings that are designed to stop small problems from turning into large ones.

How Often Should I Bring My Child to the Dentist?

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that a child should see a dentist every six months beginning no later than their first birthday. You may need to make additional appointments if there are any ongoing oral health issues to deal with; we’ll let you know what kind of schedule is best for your little one.

Is It an Emergency if My Child Has a Baby Tooth Knocked Out?

There’s usually no need to panic if a baby tooth is knocked out, but we do need to evaluate your mouth as soon as possible to see if any damage has been done to your child’s last. Sometimes there will be no major issues, but in other cases we may have to take steps to prevent the early loss of the tooth from affecting your child’s dental development.

When Should Thumb Sucking Stop?

Thumb sucking is normal in infants. The behavior usually stops on its own between 6 and 7 months or 2 and 4 years old. If it has not stopped by the time the permanent teeth start to appear (between ages 4 and 6), we can recommend possible intervention strategies to hopefully break the habit before it leads to orthodontic problems.

What if My Child is Afraid of the Dentist?

There are many steps we can take to calm your anxious or frightened child to make their dental visits more pleasant. Child-friendly dental sedation options can be used to put your little ones in a relaxed state. IV sedation is used to calm extreme fears, but if your child is only mildly anxious, we’ll likely administer nitrous oxide, which will wear off quickly once the procedure is complete so that your child can resume their normal activities right after their appointment.

How Can You Help My Special Needs Child?

If you have a child with an intellectual or physical disability that affects their ability to receive care, please let us know when you call our dental office so that we can make the appropriate accommodations. Dr. Linda has the training to work with all kinds of children regardless of their personal situation, and she’ll always put your little one’s safety, health, and comfort above everything else.

Will You Take My Insurance?

We take most dental insurance plans and are in-network with the following providers:

• BlueCross Blue Shield
• Cigna
• United Healthcare

If your plan is not on this list, call us to confirm whether we take it.