Q: What makes Coastal Maine Pediatric Dentistry different?
A. Our providers are board certified pediatric dental specialists with additional years of training specifically focused on treating children. We use positive reinforcements that kids love like TV's on the ceiling in the treatment and hygiene rooms as well as prizes at the end of their appointments. We are focused on helping your child understand what we are doing every step of the way so they have a positive experience. We have specialized equipment so if your child should ever have a cavity in many cases the provider can fix a cavity novocaine free!
Q: How do you help children who are nervous about visiting the dentist?
A. We use gentle communication, age-appropriate explanations, and a child-friendly environment to help children feel comfortable and confident throughout their visit.
Q: What ages do you see?
A. We provide comprehensive dental care for infants, children, adolescents, and patients with special healthcare needs. As our patients grow, we continue to support their oral health and development. If a patient's dental needs are better suited to a general dental practice, we will work with the family to transition them to a trusted general dentist early, helping ensure they receive the most appropriate care at every age.
Q: What should we expect at our child's first visit?
A. Our goal is to establish a dental home and make your child's first visit a positive experience. The doctor will perform an exam to establish a baseline for your child's growth and development, review oral hygiene, tooth eruption, and habits, and provide guidance on caring for their teeth and gums—including what to do in a dental emergency. We typically apply fluoride and demonstrate proper brushing techniques. Depending on your child's age, behavior, and cooperation, we may also make our first attempt at a complete cleaning.
Q: Why is preventive dental care important?
A. Preventive care helps protect growing smiles by identifying concerns early, promoting healthy habits, and reducing the likelihood of more extensive treatment in the future.
Q: How do you work with children who have dental anxiety?
A. Every child is unique. We take time to build trust, explain each step, and move at a pace that helps children feel safe and supported throughout their visit.
Q: What if my child has special healthcare needs?
A. Our team has experience caring for children with a wide range of individual needs. We work closely with families to provide personalized care in a comfortable setting.
Q: Why is arriving on time important?
A. Arriving on time allows us to provide each child with the attention they deserve while keeping appointments running smoothly for all families throughout the day.
Q: Can parents stay with their child during appointments?
A. Parents and caregivers are welcome to accompany their child during routine visits, exams, and consultations. For restorative appointments, however, we ask that children come back to the treatment area independently. These visits may involve the use of a dental laser, which requires special protective eyewear and a controlled treatment environment.
Q: How can I prepare my child for their appointment?
A. Talking positively about the dentist, reading children's books about dental visits, and arriving a few minutes early can help your child feel relaxed and ready for a successful visit.
Q. Do you offer emergency pediatric dental care?
A. Yes, Coastal Maine Pediatric Dentistry provides emergency pediatric dental services for all patients during normal business hours. After-hours emergency dental care is available for patients of record.
Q. Do you treat infants, children, and adolescents?
A. Yes, this practice specializes in treatment for infants, children, or adolescents.
Q. Do you treat children with special health care needs?
A. Yes, we do specialize in care for children with special health care needs.
Q. Do you provide fluoride treatments and dental sealants?
A. Yes, these preventive treatments are offered at this facility.
Q. Do you use laser-assisted dentistry to reduce drills or injections?
A. Yes, our office provides laser assisted dentistry.
What services does Coastal Maine Pediatric Dentistry offer?
A. Coastal Maine Pediatric Dentistry specializes in comprehensive dental care tailored specifically to infants, children, adolescents, and patients with special healthcare needs. Our services focus on promoting healthy smiles through preventive and restorative care, and we also offer laser-assisted dentistry and sedation options when appropriate to help make treatment as comfortable and positive as possible for our patients.
What are Coastal Maine Pediatric Dentistry's office hours?
A. The office hours are designed to accommodate families with flexible scheduling. For detailed hours, please visit our website or contact the office directly.
How can I contact Coastal Maine Pediatric Dentistry by phone?
A. You can reach Coastal Maine Pediatric Dentistry by calling our main office line. Please refer to our official website or contact page for the current phone number.
Where is Coastal Maine Pediatric Dentistry located in Brunswick, ME?
A. Our office is conveniently located in Brunswick, Maine. The exact address and directions are available on our website.
Who are the pediatric dentists at Coastal Maine Pediatric Dentistry?
A. The practice features a team of experienced pediatric dentists dedicated to providing gentle, effective dental care to children. Detailed profiles are available on our website to help you get to know the team.
Q. Why should my child see a pediatric dentist instead of our regular family dentist?
A. Pediatric dentistry is a dental specialty that focuses on the oral health of young people. Following dental school, a pediatric dentist has two to three years additional specialty training in the unique needs of infants, children and adolescents, including those with special health needs.
Q. At what age should my child have his/her first dental visit?
A. "First visit by 1st birthday" is the general rule. To prevent dental problems, your child should see a pediatric dentist when the first tooth appears - usually between 6 and 12 months of age - and certainly no later than his/her 1st birthday.
Q. How should I clean my baby's teeth?
A. A toothbrush with soft bristles and a small head, especially one designed for infants, is the best choice for babies. Brushing at least once a day, at bedtime, will remove plaque bacteria that can lead to decay.
Q. What is baby bottle tooth decay, and how can I prevent it?
A. Baby bottle tooth decay is a pattern of rapid decay associated with prolonged nursing. It happens when a child goes to sleep while breast-feeding and/or bottle-feeding. During sleep, the flow of saliva is reduced, and the natural self-cleansing action of the mouth is diminished. Avoid nursing children to sleep or putting anything other than water in their bedtime bottle.
Q. How can I help my child through the teething stage?
A. When teeth erupt, sore gums are part of the normal eruption process. The discomfort is eased for some children by use of a teething biscuit, a piece of toast or a frozen teething ring. Your pharmacy should also have medications that can be rubbed on the gums to alleviate the discomfort.
Q. Can thumb sucking be harmful for my child's teeth?
A. Thumb and pacifier sucking habits that go on for a long period of time can create crowded, crooked teeth or bite problems. If children are still sucking their thumbs or fingers when their permanent teeth erupt, a mouth appliance may be recommended by your pediatric dentist. Most children stop these habits on their own.
Q. When should my child start using toothpaste?
A. Do not use fluoridated toothpaste on children until age 3. Earlier than that, clean your child's teeth with water and a soft-bristled toothbrush. After age 3, parents should supervise brushing. Use no more than a pea-sized amount of toothpaste, and make sure children do not swallow excess toothpaste.
Q. If my child gets a toothache, what should I do?
A. To comfort your child, rinse his/her mouth with warm salt water, and apply a cold compress or ice wrapped in a cloth on your child's face if it is swollen. Do not put heat or aspirin on the sore area, but you may give the child acetaminophen for pain. Please see us as soon as possible.
Q. My child plays sports. How should I protect my child's teeth?
A. A mouth guard should be a top priority on your child's list of sports equipment. Athletic mouth protectors, or mouth guards, are made of soft plastic and fit comfortably to the shape of the upper teeth. They protect a child's teeth, lips, cheeks and gums from sports-related injuries. Any mouth guard works better than no mouth guard, but a custom-fitted mouth guard fitted by our dentist is your child's best protection against sports-related injuries.
Q. If my child gets a cavity in a baby tooth, should it still be filled?
A. Primary, or "baby," teeth are important for many reasons. Not only do they help children speak clearly and chew naturally, they also aid in forming a path that permanent teeth can follow when they are ready to erupt. Some of them are necessary until a child is 12 years old or older. Pain, infection of the gums and jaws, impairment of general health and premature loss of teeth are just a few of the problems that can happen when baby teeth are neglected. Also, because tooth decay is really an infection and will spread, decay on baby teeth can cause decay on permanent teeth. Proper care of baby teeth is instrumental in enhancing the health of your child.
Q. What should I do if my child knocks out a permanent tooth?
A. First of all, remain calm. If possible, find the tooth and hold it by the crown (top) rather than the root. Replace the tooth in the socket, and hold it there with clean gauze or a washcloth. If you can't put the tooth back in the socket, place the tooth in a clean container with milk or water, and take your child and the glass immediately to the pediatric dentist. Time is essential, so the faster you act, the better your chances of saving the tooth.