Oral health impacts our overall health and well-being. It is important for children to visit the dentist regularly and to learn how to take care of their teeth at a young age.

What is pediatric dentistry?

Pediatric dentists have special training and are knowledgeable about caring for hygiene and issues that are important for children, their teeth and oral health. Pediatric dentists will care for children from infancy through the teenage years. They will care for your child’s gums, teeth and mouth as they grow. It is important for children to be comfortable with their dentist, so our professionals do everything they can to make children feel relaxed during their visits.

What types of services do pediatric dentists offer?

At MaineHealth, pediatric dentists are passionate about your child’s oral health. They are patient in helping children overcome any fears or worries about going to the dentist. Our pediatric dentists are ready to offer a wide range of services to keep your child’s mouth as healthy as possible. Some of these services include:

• Regular hygiene and preventative care
• Fluoride varnish
• Sealants
• Digital X-rays
• Athletic mouth guards
• Tracking growth and development
• Habit correction
• Interceptive orthodontics
• Filling cavities

Parents can help prevent tooth decay in their children

You can protect your child’s teeth with four simple steps:

• Twice daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste protects teeth from tooth decay (for children under 3 use only a “smear” or “rice sized amount” of fluoridated toothpaste).
• Ask your child’s doctor or dentist to put fluoride varnish on your child’s teeth to help prevent tooth decay and even reverse early tooth decay.
• Serve healthy foods and stay away from sugary drinks and snacks.
• Have a doctor or dentist check your child’s teeth by age one and then on an on-going basis.

What if my child is having mouth pain or another symptom?

We encourage you to bring your child to the dentist for routine visits and check-ups to maintain good oral health. If your child is having pain or an unusual symptom, please call us.

We might ask you to bring your child in to the office so that we can get a closer look at what might be causing the issue. Symptoms include, but are not limited to:

• Tooth pain
• Swollen gums
• Sensitivity to hot and cold
• Change of color in the mouth
• Headaches
• Bad breath

Want to learn more about taking care of your children’s teeth?

Visit From the First Tooth for more information, it is a resource for parents to learn how to protect their children’s baby teeth. Kids who get cavities early may have lifetime problems with tooth decay.