Parents who bring their children to Dr. Gaertner’s office can expect a friendly, warm environment and a variety of high-quality dental services. Here’s what you need to know about dentistry at Bliss Dental.
- Why Visit a Pediatric Dentist
- What You Should Know about Pediatric Dental Care
- Pediatric Dental Prevention
- Types of Pediatric Dental Services
- How do I prepare for my child’s first pediatric dental appointment?
- What will happen during my child’s first pediatric dental visit?
- Frequently Asked Questions About Dentistry
Why Visit a Pediatric Dentist
There are many advantages to taking children to a dentist like Dr. Gaertner, who also treats children. He works really well with children and adolescents.
Dr. Gaertner understands the unique problems children face and the complexities of how their teeth grow and develop. He also knows exactly what it takes to help children feel comfortable and relaxed in the dentist’s chair.
Dentists like Dr. Gaertner also focus on preventative care. They spend their time helping children of all ages develop healthy habits for dental health such as brushing twice a day and flossing daily. Since it’s easier to prevent a dental problem than to resolve one, preventative care is highly encouraged at Bliss Dental.
In addition, our Miami, FL dental office is kid-friendly and features toys and books designed to make trips to the dentist fun for children. Our front desk staff has put a great deal of time and energy into creating an enjoyable environment for little and big kids. If you’re looking for a dentist in Miami that will help put your child at ease, Bliss Dental could be a perfect choice.
What You Should Know about Pediatric Dental Care
As a parent, you naturally want what is best for your child. Many parents are unaware of how oral health and dental care plays into that. According to the Center for Disease Control, tooth decay (cavities) is the number one most commonly occurring infectious disease among children. This leads to children experiencing toothaches in high numbers, missing days from school, and experiencing overall discomfort. Tooth decay is not a trivial thing, but a condition that can create significant discomfort for your child and even make it difficult for them to eat, speak clearly, and engage in normal daily activities. If you live in the 33183 area and think that this will not happen to your child, statistically, it most likely will. Brushing and flossing at home will help, but it is not enough. You need to bring your child to our kid friendly dentist office twice a year so that we can examine and clean their teeth. By doing this, we will be able to remove the plaque and bacteria that can lead to cavities in the first place.
Resources You Can Use At Home For Dental Care
In addition to visiting our kid friendly dentist office, it is important that you practice good oral hygiene at home and teach your child to do the same. In our dental office, we work with a lot of children under age eight and understand how challenging it can be to get them excited about brushing teeth. Kids are busy and asking them to stop riding bikes, building Legos, or playing dress up to brush their teeth can lead to conflict fairly quickly. We get it. At Bliss Dental, we can work with young children and are under no illusion that they are fascinated by oral health. Our job, however, is to change their opinion of dental care and show them that it can be fun and interesting. This way they will want to brush and floss their teeth, even without being told. With that in mind, we have a few resources that we have found to be helpful and suggest that you try them at home.
Once your child is brushing correctly, it is time to turn your attention to how long they are brushing for. At Bliss Dental we encourage all of our patients to brush for two minutes, twice a day, regardless of how old they are. This, however, can be difficult for young children that find it hard to focus on a task or to stay still. As a kid friendly dentist, we want them to brush their teeth but staying still isn’t a requirement. Try making it fun to brush teeth by playing their favorite song for two minutes and letting them dance and brush. You can also play a two-minute video clip or cartoon for them while brushing. The American Dental Association has an entire section of their website devoted to these short videos and watching them will get your child used to brushing for the full two minutes. We have worked with families throughout the 33183 area and have found that using media works far better than standing there with a stopwatch. The goal is to create positive associations between dental care and having fun so that your child will continue to brush their teeth as they grow.
Dentistry And Special Children Needs
While Dr. Gaertner specializes in caring for children and adolescents of all ages, he also has excellent experience in working with special needs children. Although dentistry is important for all children, it is particularly beneficial to those with special needs.
Parents of children with Down’s syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, and other developmental or congenital disorders will find that Dr. Gaertner knows how to work with physical and mental limitations and provides their children with the highest quality of care.
Since children with special needs often have a challenging time acclimating to the dentist initially, visiting a dentist like Dr. Gaertner can enable parents to create a dental care and oral hygiene program that caters to their children’s particular physical, mental, and emotional needs.
Pediatric Dental Prevention
As a kid friendly dentist office in Kendall, we are focused on preventative care. It is far better for your child to visit us for a regular teeth cleaning than to only see us with a toothache. Fortunately, by using preventative care methods we can help your child to avoid experiencing any dental discomfort. In addition to cleaning their teeth, one of the ways that we do so is with dental sealant. Many children have deep ridges in their teeth. When they bite down and chew food, bacteria, food particles, and plaque can become trapped in those ridges and eventually they will create tooth decay. These areas are particularly difficult to clean with a toothbrush alone, so even the most fastidious of parents may find it challenging to keep cavities at bay. By using dental sealant, a protective layer is placed onto the teeth so that nothing can become stuck in these ridges. The procedure is painless and fast since all we need to do is brush a material onto the teeth and allow it to harden. At Bliss Dental, we have found this to be a simple way to prevent our young patients from getting cavities.
Types of Pediatric Dental Services
Here at Bliss Dental, we offer a wide range of pediatric dentistry. Parents who bring their children to our office often refer to us as a “one-stop shop” because we truly do it all. Here’s a brief overview of the pediatric dental services available:
Pediatric Dental Cleanings
Excellent oral health begins with routine cleanings. During appointments, Dr. Gaertner and staff doctors show children how to brush and floss their teeth so they can develop an effective oral hygiene routine that can be carried on to adulthood. Dr. Gaertner makes routine cleanings educational by explaining what he is going to do in kid-friendly language. Dental cleanings for children are recommended every six months.
Oral Health Exams For Children
When children visit our South Florida office for dental cleanings, we will almost always perform oral health exams. During oral health exams, our team closely checks the teeth, jaw, and gums. They look for any abnormalities that may be problematic as a child grows. In the event an abnormality is detected, our team will explain our findings to the child and parent and come up with an appropriate treatment plan.
Pediatric Dental Digital X-Rays
Digital x-rays can help Dr. Gaertner and the rest of the team at Bliss Dental in Miami, FL identifies issues with a child’s tooth and design an appropriate treatment plan. There are no chemicals involved with digital x-rays and parents don’t have to worry about them emitting excessive amounts of radiation.
Infant Oral Care
Infants, children, and adolescents all have different needs for dental care. A lifetime of good oral health begins during the first stages of a child’s life, even before their first teeth appear. We believe that patients who are well educated in children’s oral health can better ensure their infants’ and children’s dental care needs are met. Dr. Gaertner suggests bringing infants to our office no later than their first birthday so that he can develop a relationship with parents and provide them with all the advice and resources they need to care for their child’s teeth, gums, and jaw.
Fluoride Treatments For Kids
Fluoride contains fluorine, which is a natural element found in drinking water. Fluoride treatments can reduce the risk of tooth decay in children. They are often recommended in our office to help prevent problems later in life.
Dental Fillings In Children
Sometimes, kids get cavities–it happens. We offer tooth-colored fillings so that children can enjoy a more natural appearance. A filling procedure involves removing the decayed portion of a child’s tooth and filling it in to protect it from further complications. Since our staff doctors believe the best fillings are no fillings, we educate children on how they can prevent them down the road.
Pediatric Dental Crowns
Contrary to popular belief, dental crowns are not only for adults. We may perform a dental crown if a child’s tooth is damaged to the point that a filling is no longer an option. Generally, crowns for children are completed in one visit and last until they are replaced by a permanent tooth.
Dental Bonding For Children
Dental bonding is an ideal solution for children because it is non-invasive and will only take one visit to our dental office. The bonding material is tooth-colored and this procedure will feel comfortable. It is not as strong as a crown, but it is long-lasting and will work well until they get older.
Dentures For Kids
One of the most common dental restorations, especially for our older patients, are dentures which are a completely removable prosthetic used to replace lost teeth. Complete dentures replace all your teeth while partial dentures are used to cover some of the remaining teeth. The decision of whether or not to replace a permanent tooth in a child is personal and we will help to walk you through all of your options.
Pediatric Root Canals
Although Dr. Gaertner strives to prevent the need for root canals in children as much as possible, they are sometimes necessary to repair and preserve an infected and damaged tooth. A root canal involves removing the nerve and pulp and sterilizing and cleaning the inside of the tooth prior to sealing. Root canals can reduce the risk of severe infections and abscesses.
Nitrous Oxide Dentistry For Children
Also known as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is a mild, sweet sedative that we use to reduce anxiety and gag reflexes in children. Parents who are worried their child will not be able to handle trips to the dentist because of anxious feelings, bad gag reflexes, or behavioral or developmental problems should know that nitrous oxide can make dentistry tolerable for their child. There’s no need for hospital dentistry in order to get safe sedation and the best is dentistry. At Bliss Dental, our priority is safety and comfort for patients of all ages.
Emergency Pediatric Dental Care
Parents know that childhood is unpredictable. At any moment, their child can suffer from a toothache, partially dislodged tooth, a knocked out tooth or another type of dental emergency. Bliss Dental offers emergency pediatric dentistry care and can give parents the peace of mind they deserve in knowing they have a go-to dental resource they can turn to at any moment. From our welcoming front desk staff to our skilled dental professionals with excellent experience in pediatric dental procedures, everyone on the Bliss Dental team provides support for parents and children during a dental emergency.
How do I prepare for my child’s first pediatric dental appointment?
Dentists have never been a child’s best friend, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be this way. In order to instill positive emotions linking to dentist visits, it is important to help your son or daughter get excited about the visit.
Make sure you assure him/her that dentists are not scary but are there to help you.
Children who have positive feelings towards dentists are more likely to take good care of their teeth an less likely to skip dentist appointments as an adult.
Something else we recommend is to prepare for any emotional outbursts by bringing toys to comfort the child. This way, he/she will feel more at ease. To give yourself some piece of mind, you can speak with the dentist ahead of time. You can ask him/her what will happen during the first visit so you know what to expect and mentally prepare for the occasion.
What will happen during my child’s first pediatric dental visit?
During your infant’s first visit to the dentist, the routine will be pretty standard. Most dentists have their way handling their appointments but they are all alike.
The dentist will examine the child’s teeth, gums, jaw, oral tissues and bite, hereby checking it everything is properly forming and coming into place. Next, the dentist will polish the tooth/teeth to remove any plaque that has formed along the gums.
If the child has any deep cavities visible to the naked eye, x-rays will be taken. Lastly, it is likely that he/she will share some home cleaning tips and techniques with you.
Call today to schedule your consultation
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- Robert Diaz
Frequently Asked Questions About Dentistry
We suggest bringing your child to the dentist by their first birthday. Early appointments at our office can educate you how to properly care for your child’s teeth while instilling good oral habits that last a lifetime. This will help ensure that they maintain a beautiful smile throughout their life.
In most cases, children should visit our office every six months for a routine exam and cleaning. However, if your child has a special condition or circumstances, they may need to see us more often.
Dr. Gaertner recommends toothbrushes with small heads and soft bristles for children. Before purchasing a toothbrush for your child, check the age ratings included on the packaging. If possible, invest in a colorful toothbrush or one with a fun design to get your child excited about brushing daily.
The purpose of flossing is to remove food particles and plaque that get stuck between teeth. We suggest introducing flossing into your child’s life when they turn four years old. Most children are able to floss on their own around age eight.
Absolutely! Many children’s snacks are loaded with sugars and starches that lead to tooth decay in infants, children, and teenagers. By establishing a healthy, balanced diet, you can keep your child’s teeth strong and reduce their risk of dental complications down the road.
As a parent, it can be difficult to watch your child in pain from a toothache. If your child develops a toothache, use warm salt water to rinse the area causing pain. Apply a cold compress to relieve any swelling and refrain from placing heat or aspirin directly onto your child’s sore teeth or gums. If their toothache seems especially serious, call our dental office to schedule an emergency appointment.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, you should begin limiting or stop pacifier use once your child turns six months old. Any use after the six-month mark is correlated with an increased risk of ear infections.
Unless thumb sucking continues once your child’s permanent teeth begin to appear, it does not usually cause a problem. Most children stop sucking their thumbs on their own. However, if your child continues to suck their thumb as their permanent teeth appear, Dr. Gaertner may suggest a mouth guard or another dental device.
Yes. Dental x-rays only use a small amount of radiation. Our team uses only high-speed film to ensure the safety of the children we care for.
In addition to helping your child clean their teeth and gums, you can ensure they receive plenty of fluoride through water, fluoride toothpaste, or professional fluoride treatments in our dental office. You can also discourage them from going to bed with a bottle as doing so may lead to baby bottle decay.
A child’s first pediatric dental visit is typically short and simple. Dr. Gaertner will use this time to get to know your child and provide you with some basic advice on dental care. He may check your child’s teeth for placement and search for any potential issues with their gum and jaw. If possible, he may perform a bit of cleaning. Dr. Gaertner will also answer any questions you may have and provide you with some useful reading materials you can refer to at home.
Most children move on to a general dentist when they turn 18. However, some children continue to receive pediatric dental services until they graduate from college at around age 22 or 23.
If you live near Kendall, FL, Bliss Dental offers Pediatric Dental among its services, and is conveniently located at 8501 SW 124th Ave Ste 104 Kendall, FL 33183
Why Choose Dr. Gaertner of Bliss Dental
As the son of a dentist, Dr. Gaertner’s passion for dentistry began at an early age. Following high school, Dr. Gaertner attended Nova Southeastern University in Florida where he earned his Bachelor’s of Science in Biology, then graduated with his Doctorate of Dental Medicine (D.M.D) degree. Dr. Gaertner has practiced dentistry in both the United States and his home country of Belgium and now calls the Miami area home.
He practices a variety of dentistry, including Cosmetic Dentistry, Smile Makeovers, Dental Crowns, Porcelain Veneers, Root Canal Treatments, Invisalign, and so on. Dr. Gaertner has also integrated the use of Dental Lasers and Botox injections into his state-of-the-art dental practice.
Bliss Dental is a full-service facility, offering top-notch patient care and providing services that range from routine dental care to endodontics to cosmetic and restorative dentistry services that enhance patients’ smiles.
Schedule a Dentist Appointment for Your Child Today
To learn more about what makes Bliss Dental the ideal pediatric dental office in Miami, we encourage you to contact our dental office to schedule an appointment. Call us at (305) 274-6500 or fill out our handy online contact form. We look forward to providing your child with high-quality dental care in Miami, FL a warm and welcoming environment
Helpful Related Links
- American Dental Association (ADA). Glossary of Dental Terms. 2015
- American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry® (AACD). Home Page. 2015
- WebMD. WebMD’s Oral Care Guide. 2015
