by Richard Baxter DMD, MS | Jul 24, 2015 | Parent Questions, Pediatric Dentistry, Uncategorized
anxious child
A parent asked this question on our Facebook page. If anyone has any questions or suggestions for future blog posts, please post them on our page or in the comments section, and I will be happy to answer them!
Typically a child who is fearful of the dentist will have had a difficult situation at another dentist’s office or at a pediatrician’s office and is scared of anyone dressed in scrubs or medical clothing. Sometimes the fear is transmitted from a parent or relative who had a bad experience at the dentist. These relatives (often siblings) will say things to the child like “they’re going to pull out a huge needle and jab it into your gums!” Clearly this is the wrong message to send to a child who has never been before or one who is about to get some fillings done. Parents can instead try to prepare their child in a positive way while avoiding the scary things. Say things like “we like the dentist because he / she keeps your teeth healthy” or “you’re going to have a great time because you can watch Frozen while they sing songs to you and fix your teeth!” (Which is true at our office!) You can also show your child our virtual tour on our website so they can see the office before arriving. It’s generally helpful to be vague and allow us to prepare your child for the specific procedure at our office. We allow them to touch the instruments, feel the water and the air, and hear the noises in a non-threatening way while explaining what we are going to do at an age-appropriate level.
Please do not mention anything about “shots”, “drills”, “pulling or yanking teeth” or anything “hurting.” Most of the time (probably 90%), the kids don’t even know they get a teeny tiny injection because we have lots of techniques to help them through the appointment. Many times we take out their sick tooth, and they don’t even know! So prepare them in a way that portrays dentists and dentistry in a positive light, and let us work through the appointment. Although a lot of parents have had difficult experiences at the dentist themselves, and it can be hard to not tell your child about it, avoid discussing your anxiety or past bad experiences. Children can sense a parent’s anxiety. Parents are welcome to accompany children for any visit, but if the parent feels more comfortable waiting in the lobby, that is totally fine too. Also avoid discussing details of a prior difficult experience the child has had at another office. We would be happy to discuss any prior difficulties that you think we need to know about in an area away from the child.
If you have any questions about this post or any others, please call our office at 205-419-7444.
Richard Baxter, DMD, MS
by Richard Baxter DMD, MS | Jul 9, 2015 | Pediatric Dentistry
“Dentistry with a Mission” 
An article written about us when we first opened used the phrase “Dentistry with a Mission,” and it stuck. Our full mission statement is to “provide exceptional, individualized oral healthcare for infants, children, adolescents, and patients with special needs in a fun and compassionate environment. We partner with parents and focus on prevention and early detection of dental diseases in order to help our patients establish a lifetime of healthy habits. We believe every child is a blessing, and it is our privilege to serve them.”
We desire to bless those around us and also those around the world through dentistry. After visiting third world countries, and through the teaching at our church, The Church at Brook Hills, our eyes have been opened to the needs around the world and in our own community. For example, in a certain area of Ghana, there are 3 million people and 1 dentist. That’s like having two dentists for the whole state of Alabama! It is difficult for us to understand the kind of need that exists in other parts of the world. Through mPower Approach, my wife and I went to Myanmar and trained pastors to extract teeth so that the impact from our 10 day trip would continue long after we left. It’s like teaching a man to fish instead of giving him a fish. These pastors then go and share God’s love with those hurting around them and also provide a much needed service. By God’s grace, we hope to go on many more trips in the future, and I went to Ghana in January of 2016.
In addition to going on trips, we hope to use the resources that God has entrusted to us in the practice to bless others. One way we have done this is by partnering with NeverThirst who provides clean water to those without access to drinking water and brings Living Water by partnering with churches in these areas. Locally, we have supported the North Shelby Library, local schools, and students in inner-city Birmingham.
We thank you for your support of our mission. It truly is our privilege to serve you!
by Richard Baxter DMD, MS | Jun 13, 2015 | Cavities, Dental Health, Parent Questions
Flossing is a key part of maintaining a healthy mouth and a beautiful smile. But let’s be honest, flossing is not very high on the to-do list. Sometimes, it takes so much effort to get your child’s teeth brushed at night, that adding flossing would be just too much. So here’s a tip: Only floss your child’s teeth that are touching.
If your child’s teeth are not touching, you don’t have to floss. Make sure to brush really well, and brush along the gumline especially, but you only have to floss the teeth that are close together. Typically the front teeth, and the very back teeth are the only ones to touch. The most common place we see cavities in younger children (age 3-6) is between the baby molars. These four places often get food stuck between the teeth, and with four swipes of floss, you can prevent cavities easily. However, a lack of flossing, can cause these four places (or 8 teeth touching) to multiply to 8 cavities quickly! When flossing your child, make life easier on yourself and buy some of the little flossers (see photo above). Just be sure to wipe it between each tooth you floss or else you will just be spreading around the plaque.
To prevent those cavities between the teeth in the back molars, make sure to limit any sugary drinks, especially juice, Coke, Kool-Aid, sweet tea, and sports drinks. In fact, organic, no-sugar added apple juice (although healthier in general) has even more sugar than Coke! So we recommend water throughout the day and reserve white milk for meal times. The amount of time that the sugar is in contact with the teeth (less is best!) is the key to making sure your child does not get cavities.
As always, if you have any questions, or would like to schedule an appointment, please call 205-419-7444.
Dr. Baxter
by Richard Baxter DMD, MS | May 4, 2015 | Parent Questions, Pediatric Dentistry
FAQ: What should I do if my child knocks out his permanent tooth?
The best thing to do with a baby tooth that is knocked out is to put it under the child’s pillow for the tooth fairy. However, when a permanent tooth is knocked out, it is critical that action be taken immediately because whether the tooth survives is based on the time it takes to get the tooth back in the socket. A tooth that is knocked out from a sports injury, a fall, or any number of other ways needs to first be briefly rinsed with water for a few seconds to get any dirt off the tooth. The next step depends on your desire and ability to replace the tooth in the socket. The absolute best thing to do with a knocked out permanent tooth is to replace it in the socket right after quickly rinsing it with water. If this isn’t a possibility (the child lost consciousness) or you are not willing or able to do this, the next best thing to do is place the tooth in cold milk. Milk is the liquid that is most like the tooth’s natural environment and the cells on the root will be able to live for several hours in cold milk. Do NOT place the tooth in water, juice, Gatorade, or coke, because if the cells on the tooth root die, the tooth will not be able to heal once it is replaced in the socket.
The lifetime cost to replace a front tooth that is knocked out and does not survive is around $10,000 (for bridges, crowns, a dental implant, etc.). So if we can keep that tooth healthy, and it survives, not only will the child have a better smile, less dental procedures, and issues, but the parent will save a significant amount of money! This is why even if it seems gross to stick the tooth back in the socket, it really is the best treatment and gives the tooth the best chance of healing. Once the tooth is replaced in the socket (or if it is in cold milk) find a pediatric dentist or general dentist as soon as possible who can help you stabilize the tooth in the mouth. The tooth will usually require a root canal within 7-10 days after being knocked out, unless the tooth just recently erupted. The child will have to wear a splint on the teeth, which is typically made from fishing line and a white filling material. The splint will stay in place for around two weeks to allow the tooth to re-attach to the bone in the jaw.
If you have any questions about a permanent tooth getting knocked out, or would like to schedule an appointment, please call us at 205-419-7444.
by Richard Baxter DMD, MS | Apr 20, 2015 | Cavities, Parent Questions, Treatment Options
kid teeth
FAQ: Why are baby teeth important? They’re going to fall out anyway, right?! Baby teeth, or primary teeth, are present in the child’s mouth from around 6 months until they are twelve. Baby teeth are critical for a child’s eating, smiling, speaking, and facial development. With good brushing and flossing, and with a reasonable diet consisting of mostly healthy foods, cavities can be avoided. If a tooth gets a cavity, typically it can be fixed with a white filling or a cap, and be saved. We always try to save teeth if at all possible. Unfortunately, baby teeth that get infected or have lost too much tooth structure need to be removed. This can cause many problems in the child’s developing mouth. If a back tooth or canine tooth is lost early, the other teeth around it will shift and fill that space. When this happens, there is not enough room for the permanent tooth to erupt and braces are typically needed to push the teeth back to their normal positions and gain the space once again. Luckily, if a front tooth is lost too early from trauma (the tooth gets knocked out) or from infection, there typically aren’t too many problems (except a toothless grin for photographs!). Studies have shown that missing front baby teeth do not typically affect speech or eating habits. When these teeth are lost too early, it can delay the eruption of the permanent tooth a year or two, which concerns many parents. If a baby tooth has to be removed early, we often recommend a spacer or space maintainer to keep the other teeth from shifting and filling the space that is needed for the permanent tooth to erupt. Sometimes if the permanent tooth will erupt soon, a spacer is not needed. If your child needs a tooth extracted, always be sure to ask if a spacer is needed to avoid the need for braces, or at least the need for more complicated braces later. If you have any questions about this post, or would like to schedule an appointment, please contact Dr. Baxter and the team at 205-419-7444.
