At Bright Pediatric Smiles, we strongly believe it’s never too early to start making great oral health a priority for your beloved infant. Dr. Sam has the advanced training to assist children at every age range, including young babies, and provide personalized, comprehensive support for their developing gum tissue and teeth. To schedule a first visit, don’t hesitate to contact us in Poway, CA.

ORAL HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT

While your baby won’t be old enough to receive a traditional dental checkup, that doesn’t mean we won’t be able to identify potential concerns and stop them early during their first visit! Dr. Sam will want to assess your loved one’s overall risk for tooth decay and potential developmental issues. She can also provide lots of helpful tips for everyday life, including how to properly clean infant gums after feedings, what kinds of food are best for good oral health, and much more.

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TEETHING

When your baby starts to go through teething, it should be fairly obvious – they’ll likely start to sleep less and become more irritable. Is this developmental hiccup causing some major frustrations for you and your spouse? Don’t hesitate to let the Bright Pediatric Smiles team know! We can help you make this transition smoother, recommending high-quality teething rings and good techniques for rubbing the gum tissue to relieve discomfort. Don’t worry – it won’t last forever. TEETHING

SILVER DIAMINE FLUORIDE (SDF) TREATMENTS

If your infant, unfortunately, ends up with cavities in their newly-emerged teeth, silver diamine fluoride treatment offers a safe and non-invasive way to prevent the decay from progressing. SDF is a cavity-fighting liquid that works as a “holdover” until your son or daughter is old enough to safely receive proper restorative treatment. It’s applied with a small, paintbrush-like tool over a period of around two minutes so that Dr. Sam can make sure it’s penetrated the cavity as deeply as possible. SDF will need to be reapplied several times to ensure maximum effectiveness.

NON-NUTRITIVE HABITS

Many infants start sucking their fingers and/or thumbs as a way to comfort themselves when Mom and Dad are out of the room. These habits are harmless at such a young age, but Dr. Sam does want parents to be aware that these unconscious actions can become potentially harmful to developing teeth and jawbones over the years. If you have any questions or concerns about what to expect and what you can do to help your son or daughter safely grow out of non-nutritive habits, feel free to let us know.