“When is the right time for children to start going to the dentist?” My answer is to bring them when they are 2 years old and have all of their baby teeth (20). This way, they get used to coming and have a positive experience before getting an actual cleaning or any cavity work completed.
The first visit (and possibly more) we call the “happy visit” where they tour the office and get acquainted and allow me to look in their mouth to screen for any cavities.
Certainly you need to bring your child in if they are having pain or you suspect they have a cavity.
As you can see, there are serious implications for both children and parents when the mouth of a child is neglected.
It makes my heart ache that this child has suffered needlessly.
Read the full report here:
Parnts of 6-Year-Old With Serious Infection From 14 Abscessed Teeth Charged
Most cases of childhood tooth decay are not this severe but experts say even moderate instances can have devastating health effects on children.
A Pennsylvania couple is facing criminal charges for allowing their daughter to suffer from what one dentist called the worst case of dental disease he had ever seen.
Kenneth Wanamaker Jr. and Jessica Hoffman of Lehigh Township were charged with endangering the welfare of a child this week for failing to get dental care for their 6-year-old, who had more than a dozen abscessed teeth, the Allentown Morning Call reported.
The girl was supposed to have surgery for severe tooth decay in March but her parents did not take her, according to the Morning Call. The infection became so bad that the girl could have died, a dentist told the publication.
The girl had just four teeth that were unaffected by the decay and authorities said she would need a special device because of the extent of damage. Her doctor, Eugene McGuire, told the Morning Call he
last saw the girl in February. “There was enough dental disease to kill the girl,” he told the publication.
Most cases of childhood tooth decay are not this severe but experts say even moderate instances can have devastating health effects on children.
According to the National Children’s Oral Health Foundation, tooth decay is the number one chronic childhood illness.
“When left untreated, childhood tooth decay can have devastating consequences that extend beyond the dental chair. Rampant decay can negatively impact a child’s overall quality of life, inhibit their cognitive and social development and compromise their growth, function and self esteem,” according to the National Children’s Oral Health Foundation.
Pediatric dental disease can lead to malnourishment, bacterial infections, emergency surgery and even death. Plus, dental disease has been linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, pneumonia and dementia.
Source: https://lansdale.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/parents-of-6yearold-with-serious-infection-from-14-abscessed-teeth-charged64669
Posted by Kara Seymour , June 26, 2014 at 03:14 PM