North Haven Pediatric Dentist
At Nova Dental, we see children of all ages as well as teens and adults. Many patients like the convenience of having the entire family at one dental office. We have a diverse team of general dentists, pediatric dentists, and other dental specialists at North Haven Pediatric Dentist. That means we have everyone in your family covered, no matter what dental needs arise.
Making Your Child Comfortable at the Pediatric Dentist
All three of Nova Dental’s locations—North Haven, Cromwell, and Wallingford—have playrooms to entertain your kids while you wait. When the appointment is over, our young patients look forward to picking out a prize from the toy chest.
Our staff loves caring for kids’ teeth and helping them learn good oral health habits. You can reinforce these habits at home by using motivational charts for brushing and flossing, with small rewards like stickers. It helps when kids see that their parents must brush, floss, and go to the dentist too, which is another benefit of a family dentistry office.
Children’s Dental Needs
Your child’s first visit to our office should happen at age 2 or 3. For most children, that’s before there’s time for tooth decay to develop.
Healthy children (and adults) need dental cleanings every six months. Our gentle and child-friendly hygienists perform these cleanings, preventing tooth decay and going far beyond what brushing alone can do. Using specially designed tools, hygienists remove dental plaque from your child’s teeth. They clean the dental surfaces and inside the crevices where bacteria can hide. If the plaque isn’t removed, it can deplete the minerals in teeth, leading to cavities.
Cavities are common in children. To protect against them, we apply sealants once kids’ permanent molar teeth have fully erupted, usually around age 6. Sealants are nearly invisible. We paint the sealant solution on your child’s back teeth in just a couple of minutes at their regular appointment. It reaches into the pits and fissures of the teeth, protecting spots where bacteria otherwise could do damage. According to the CDC, school-age kids without sealants get three times as many cavities as kids with sealants. Sealant protection can last for up to 10 years.
Children should also get a fluoride treatment between the ages of 4 and 6. Fluoride strengthens your tooth enamel, protecting it from calcium loss.
What If Your Child Has a Cavity?
If your child has a cavity, we will fill it painlessly, restoring the tooth’s strength and appearance. If the cavity is in a baby tooth, we will use either a composite filling or a glass ionomer filling. Both blend seamlessly with the surrounding tooth, so no one will be able to see a difference. Unlike old-style metal amalgam fillings, glass ionomer and composite fillings require minimal drilling. These fillings bond firmly to the tooth.
To schedule a pediatric dentist appointment at North Haven Pediatric Dentist Dental for your child, please call (203) 234-3900. You can also fill out this form, and we will contact you.