First visits and nervous children
When should my child first see a dentist? +
A common recommendation is to book a visit once the first tooth appears, rather than waiting for a problem or for all the adult teeth. At that age the visit is short and mostly about checking the first teeth, looking at feeding and cleaning habits, and showing you how to brush. If your child is older and has never been, there is no reason to wait for pain. Book a check now.
What happens at a child's first dental visit? +
Usually very little, on purpose. Your child sits in the chair or on your lap, meets the dentist, has teeth and gums looked at, and perhaps has the teeth counted. Dr. Mahesh will look at how teeth are coming in, ask about feeding, brushing and sucking habits, and talk you through what he sees. A
cleaning or treatment may be left for another day if your child isn't ready.
My child is scared of the dentist. How can I help? +
Keep the build-up calm and short. Avoid words like needle, drill and pain, and don't use the dentist as a threat. Play dentist at home with a toy or a brush. At the clinic we go slowly and explain before we do, and a first visit with no treatment is perfectly acceptable. Children often manage better on the second or third visit than on the first, so don't be discouraged if the first is rough.
Is there a children's dentist near Goregaon West or Malad East? +
Yes. Dr. Mahesh Patel sees children as well as adults at both clinics, in Goregaon West by day and in Malad East in the evening. He is a B.D.S. dental surgeon rather than a specialist in paediatric dentistry, and if your child's problem needs a specialist he will tell you so. For routine check-ups, fluoride, sealants and fillings, you can book either clinic.
Milk teeth and decay
Do cavities in milk teeth need treatment if they fall out anyway? +
Usually yes. Baby teeth can decay, ache and become infected, and the infection can reach the adult tooth forming beneath. A baby tooth lost too soon also lets its neighbours drift into the gap, leaving less room later. Some tiny early spots near the time a tooth is due to fall out may simply be watched, and Dr. Mahesh will tell you which approach he thinks suits your child's tooth.
Does a bottle of milk at night cause cavities? +
It can, once teeth have come through. Milk contains natural sugars, and during sleep there is less saliva to rinse them off, so decay can start on the upper front teeth first. Whether the milk is cow's, buffalo's or formula matters less than when it is given and whether the teeth are cleaned afterwards. Clean after the last feed, avoid sleeping with a bottle, and aim to move to a cup around the first birthday.
When do milk teeth fall out, and do all of them get replaced? +
The first usually come loose in the early school years, and the rest follow over several years, but timing varies a lot between children. Each baby tooth is replaced by an adult tooth, and extra adult teeth come in at the back. If an adult tooth appears behind a baby tooth that is still firm, have it checked rather than waiting.
Do bottles and pacifiers change how teeth line up? +
They can if they go on for too long. Long use of a bottle or pacifier into the later toddler years can affect how the teeth meet and increases the risk of decay if the bottle contains anything sweet. Clean pacifiers often, never dip them in sugar or honey, and move to a cup around the first birthday. If you are worried about your child's bite, mention it at the next visit.
My child sucks their thumb. When should I worry? +
Thumb or finger sucking is common in young children and is often harmless early on, and many children drop it themselves. It deserves attention if it carries on while the adult front teeth are coming through, or if you see the upper front teeth tilting forward or the teeth not meeting properly. Scolding often makes habits stronger. Praise, spotting what triggers it and a check with Dr. Mahesh come first; a small habit appliance is only used if needed.
Brushing, fluoride and sealants
Which toothpaste should my child use, and how much? +
A fluoride toothpaste in a very small amount is the usual advice. That is a smear about the size of a grain of rice until age three, then a pea-sized amount from three to six. Make sure your child spits rather than swallows. Choose one with fluoride, a mild flavour and the strength suited to the child's age as stated on the pack. If you are unsure, bring the tube to your visit.
Is fluoride safe for toddlers, and what is a fluoride application? +
Used in the small amounts described above and with supervision, fluoride toothpaste is considered safe and helps prevent cavities. Swallowing a lot of toothpaste is what to avoid, so keep the tube out of reach. A fluoride application at the clinic is a coating painted onto the teeth. Dr. Mahesh suggests it when your child is prone to cavities, not as a routine for every child.
My toddler refuses to brush. What can I do? +
Make it short and routine, not a battle. Let your child hold a brush while you use another, sing or count, and brush at the same times every day. Sitting them in your lap facing away from you lets you see the teeth. Skipping a night is better than a screaming match that makes tomorrow worse. If you are stuck, bring your child for a check and let Dr. Mahesh show a few tricks.
What are dental sealants, and does my child need them? +
Sealants are thin coatings bonded into the deep grooves of the back teeth, where a toothbrush often can't reach. They are usually placed soon after the first adult molars appear, at around six years, and again for the later molars, and the process involves no drilling. Not every child needs them. Dr. Mahesh checks how deep the grooves are and how decay-prone your child is. They work alongside good brushing, not in place of it.
Pain, accidents and cost
My child has tooth pain at night. What should I do? +
Call or message us as soon as the clinic is open and mention that it is a child. Meanwhile, offer an age-appropriate painkiller as advised by your doctor or pharmacist, never aspirin for a child, and offer soft cool food. See a dentist soon if pain lasts more than a day or two, or comes with fever, a swollen cheek or pain on biting. Swelling around the eye or neck, or trouble breathing or swallowing, needs a hospital emergency department straight away.
My child's tooth was knocked out in a fall. What do I do? +
First check your child is otherwise well; vomiting, drowsiness or a blow to the head need a doctor straight away. If it was an adult tooth, hold it by the crown, rinse it briefly in milk if dirty, and put it back in the socket if you can, or keep it in milk. Get to a dentist immediately. If it was a baby tooth, don't push it back; come in to have the gum and the other teeth checked.
How much does children's dental treatment cost? +
It depends on what your child needs, so we can't give a figure in advance. A check-up with advice is a different matter from a filling, and a filling is different from root treatment on a baby tooth. How many teeth, how deep the decay, and how many visits all change it. After the examination Dr. Mahesh will say what is needed and what it involves. Call or message us to book a first visit.
