Dr. Ken Schweifler is a family dentist serving the Los Altos community. Our office welcomes patients of all ages and can provide complete oral health care for the enjoyment of a healthy smile. Routine dental care is the foundation of dental and overall physical health and wellness. A stable smile that functions comfortably will support your best quality of life.
Children’s Dental Care in Los Altos
Dr. Schweifler can meet the dental health needs of a growing smile in our Los Altos dentist office. Our team provides age-appropriate dentistry and oral hygiene advice to foster a healthy attitude toward routine dental care. Our goal is to support healthy oral development for your growing child and establish healthy oral habits that last a lifetime.
When should I bring my child to the dentist?
Dr. Schweifler recommends that parents and caregivers bring children in for their first dental visit when the primary teeth begin to erupt or by their first birthday. These initial visits enable young babies to acclimate early to the sights and sounds of the dental office environment.
It also allows our dental care team to begin to monitor your child’s oral development. When problems that could impact the health, stability, or appearance of their smiles are discovered early, it is possible to offer an intervention that could prevent complex problems down the road.
Are baby teeth important?
Yes, your child’s baby teeth or primary teeth are very important and play key roles in overall development:
- Supporting normal speech: properly positioned and healthy primary teeth will help your child develop normal speech patterns without other concerns.
- Placeholders for permanent teeth: the primary teeth play a role in the position and growth of permanent teeth. If a baby tooth is decayed or damaged, Dr. Schweifler will provide appropriate dental care to maintain healthy oral development.
Adolescents, Teens, and Young Adults
As children continue to grow, their mouths continue to grow and change as well. Many children will need orthodontic intervention as they get older. Maybe their jaw isn’t big enough to support all of their adult teeth, or teeth are coming in crooked. With regular dental visits, we monitor the growth and changes that occur as they age. Our goal is early intervention for conservative treatment. If an orthodontic specialist is needed, we’ll refer them to get things taken care of.
Around ages 17-25, wisdom teeth begin to come into the picture. Usually, our mouths don’t have enough room for an extra set of molars. If they erupt, they can cause a cramped smile and crooked, overlapping teeth. If they’re impacted under the surface, they can cause pain and infection. We’ll monitor the development of your wisdom teeth and stay on top of the issues. Usually, we recommend extraction. We aim to take care of wisdom teeth before they cause further problems with your smile.
The Importance of Preventative Care
Preventative care is what gives you the foundation of your smile. Children need to be taught this at a young age. You can’t just be diligent in care by either brushing and flossing consistently at home or visiting the dentist. Quality oral health has to be practiced both in the home and in the dentist office.
At home, everyone in the family should brush at least twice daily and floss at least once. Preferably, you’re doing these things after every meal. Even the youngest members of the family should be joining. Brushing regularly prevents debris and bacteria from building up and creating plaque, the lead-in to gum disease and tooth decay. Flossing removes debris from between the teeth and ensures things don’t remain in the smile to attract bacteria.
But you can’t just take care of your teeth at home. Even the best brushing and flossing can’t get into all the areas our specialized dental tools can. Their design is to get into the smallest nooks and crannies. If you’re brushing at home but not visiting the dentist regularly, you’re still at a high risk for tooth decay and gum disease.
You don’t just benefit from dental visits due to the intensive cleanings. We’re experienced professionals doing a thorough examination. Our training lets us notice the earliest warning signs of various dental problems. It can be hard for you to notice these on your own. You don’t know what to look for, and we have diagnostic tools that allow us to see things you can’t with the naked eye.
Family Dentistry FAQs
Family dentistry is crucial to the oral health of the entire household. Learn more by reading the answers to these frequently asked questions.
When should my child get dental sealants?
Dental sealants are typically placed on the larger back teeth with multiple cusps. The first and second molars begin erupting around the age of 9, and sealants are placed once the teeth have fully erupted. Dental sealants are also available to prevent tooth decay for teen and adult patients.
What is the benefit of seeing a family dentist?
A family dentist can treat every member of your family. Each stage of life requires different oral care. Dr. Schweifler can offer the oral care each member of your family needs in one trip to his dentist office. Your children may find comfort in being treated in the same environment that you are. This is known to help ease anxiety children often have about visiting the dentist. Also, it’s simply more convenient for you!
When should my child begin brushing their teeth?
Unfortunately, there is no magic age for this. You should let your child brush their teeth when they can do it safely. Dr. Schweifler recommends parents help their children until at least age 7. The best way to help this transition is to let them try it while you are supervising. Then you can check to see how well they did and offer to help when needed.