Dentists Serving Greenville, Simpsonville, Landrum & Nearby Areas Of South Carolina And North Carolina
The first dental visit for your child can be a scary experience for everyone involved, which is why our family dentists at Wood Creek Dental believe in providing a welcoming, comfortable atmosphere for our patients of all ages. We work particularly hard to make your child’s visit as stress-free as possible. That often starts with bringing them with you to your appointment to begin building a level of trust with our dentists and staff. Our goal is to eliminate fear and educate both parents and children about maintaining good dental hygiene while making the first trip to the dentist a fun experience.
Schedule your child’s first dental visit at Wood Creek Dental in Greenville today at 864-288-5300. Our dentists see children as young as three and encourage you to bring them with you when you come to our office for your own exam and cleaning.
The Importance of Children’s Dental Hygiene Care
Getting your child to take care of their teeth is no easy task, but it’s important to set them up for good oral health for life by starting early. Your child will experience fewer dental problems as they grow if you start early, and that begins with his or her first dental visit. You can ease into this by bringing them with you for your dental exam and cleaning. That way they know what to expect and are already comfortable with our dentists and staff. The tools can be scary for small children and comfort is key.
Maintain Good Hygiene at Home for Infants, Toddlers, and Growing Children
Regular dental cleanings and checkups are essential, but all of this starts at home.
- Infant Dental Care: It’s recommended to start cleaning your baby’s gums with a water-soaked cloth after each feeding to remove food and stimulate the gum tissue. When teeth begin to erupt, brush gently with fluoridated toothpaste.
- Dental Care for Toddlers (2-3 years old): This is the age where you start teaching your child proper brushing techniques and encourage them to brush twice a day. You can make this a fun family activity by letting them pick out their toothbrush and brush together each morning and night.
- Dental Hygiene for 7-8 years old: Gentle flossing can be introduced when your child reaches seven or eight.
Check to see if your local water supply contains fluoride, and if it doesn’t, discuss supplementation with our Greenville dentists. We offer sealants and fluoride treatments for our young patients to ensure healthy teeth and prevent cavities as they grow. Sealants protect the grooves and depressions on the chewing surfaces of back teeth. Nearly 90 percent of school-aged children in America develop cavities because of food and bacteria build up in those hard-to-clean and hard-to-reach grooves.
You can also help your children maintain a healthy mouth through a well-balanced diet free of excessive, sugary snacks and drinks.
At What Age Should You Start Taking Your Child to the Dentist?
It is a good idea to start taking your child to the dentist when they are around 12 months old. These early visits serve to familiarize children with professional dental care, helping them to feel comfortable with dental visits and guard against future anxiety. These visits also allow our gentle pediatric dentists to evaluate the progression of your child’s baby teeth and to make sure there are no concerns with spacing or eruption.
Hear From Parents of Our Pediatric Patients
"Thank you for the great care of myself and my three young children all in one visit. I know that I can trust that my children are being well taken care of while I am having my appointment.”
— Sandra H.
“The fact that staff knows my child's likes/dislikes makes it a great experience. Thankful we don't have to have separate dentist for kids and parents — nice to have a family friendly practice!!”
— Chandler C.
"I always have an excellent experience at Woodcreek Dental! They are the best! Also I recently took my 3 year old and they were wonderful with him!"
- Lindsey C.
What Will a Pediatric Dental Appointment Look Like for My Child?
One of the primary goals of pediatric dentistry is to instill a sense of comfort with professional dental services in children. To that end, we take every care to make these appointments fun, warm, welcoming, and gentle. Our patient and highly-trained staff know exactly how to interact with children of all ages, helping them feel at ease and cared for as we provide age-appropriate education and encourage skills that will allow them to eventually take control of their own oral health at home. We are committed to empowering children to take care of their teeth and gums as they grow, helping to ensure peak oral health for life.
How Do I Prepare My Child for Dental Appointment?
There are various books and shows – many available for free through PBS or the library – that explain dental visits to children in a fun and encouraging way. You can help your child become excited about dental care by talking about how much you love visiting the dentist and remaining positive when discussing dental care.
Remember, children pay attention to their parents. How you discuss dental visits and the energy you put into making them seem fun will have a direct impact on how comfortable your child feels before they come to our office.
What Are the Biggest Dental Problems Children Face and How Can We Avoid Them?
The most common pediatric dental problems are tooth decay, orthodontic problems, thumb sucking and pacifier use, and tooth sensitivity. Some of these issues can be prevented through proper at-home care, which should begin in infancy and continue to progress as your child grows. Set good examples through your own daily care.
Proper nutrition is also key to optimal dental health. Help your child avoid sugary snacks, including dared fruit, and model good eating habits as well to help instill in your child the healthiest behaviors.
My Child Does Not Like Dental Visits. How Can I Change This?
The first step is to be careful how you talk about dental visits. Be positive and encouraging. The second step is choosing a practice that focuses on family and pediatric dental care.
Our pediatric dentists have not only been trained to work with children, they enjoy it and choose to do so. At Wood Creek Dental, we honor the unique needs of children and focus on helping them feel safe and well cared for. We have found that dealing with dental fears gently and remaining positive goes a long way towards helping children feel confident about dental visits.
Schedule Your Child’s Dental Visit
Schedule a dental exam and cleaning for your child today in Greenville by calling 864-288-5300 or in Landrum by calling 864-457-3425. Wood Creek Dental provides family dentistry to patients in Greenville, Landrum, Simpsonville, and surrounding areas of South Carolina.
