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 both dental health and overall physical health and wellness. A smile that is stable and 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 become acclimated at an early age to the sights and sounds of the dental office environment.
It also provides the opportunity for our dental care team to begin to monitor the oral development of your child. 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 in the absence of 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. Our goal is to take care of the wisdom teeth before they cause further problems with your smile.
Family Dentistry FAQs
When should my child get dental sealants?
Dental sealants are typically placed on the larger back teeth that have 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 for teen and adult patients to prevent tooth decay.
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 is capable of offering 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 own teeth?
Unfortunately, there is no magic age for this. You should let your child brush their own teeth when they can properly and safely do it alone. 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.