Children’s Dentistry for Murrieta Families

Does Golden Triangle Dentistry see children?

Yes. Our dentists care for toddlers, children and teens, and parents are welcome to stay with their child during visits.

For kids, our team offers fluoride treatments, sealants, dietary counseling and checks for habits like thumb and pacifier sucking.

There’s more on the way. Dr. Neff’s letter to our patients shares that specialist care for children’s dentistry will be available right here, so you will not need to travel to another office.

That’s part of the letter’s “specialists under one roof” plan, with Dr. H. Pourshirazi, DMD, now caring for patients and Dr. Meerweis Stanisai, DDS, continuing to see patients. The same caring team that has served Murrieta families since 1991 is still here.

Why do baby teeth matter if they fall out anyway?

Baby teeth help your child chew, speak clearly and smile, and they hold space for the adult teeth that come in later.

Babies are born with all 20 baby teeth already in their jaws. The first ones usually break through around 6 months, and most are in by age 3.

According to the ADA, baby teeth lost to cavities can threaten the health of the adult teeth, and decay can mean discomfort for your child.

Cavities are the most common chronic disease of childhood in the U.S., says the CDC, and more than half of children ages 6 to 8 have had a cavity in a baby tooth. If a cavity does form, tooth-colored fillings can repair it.

What happens at a child’s first dental visit?

At a first visit, the dentist checks your child’s teeth, jaw, bite and gums, looks for cavities or injuries, and shares tips for caring for those new teeth at home.

Very young children often sit on a parent’s lap. Depending on your child’s age and number of teeth, there may be a gentle cleaning to remove plaque and stains.

To help the visit go smoothly, the ADA suggests choosing a time when your child is usually rested, not nap time. Offer a light meal before, and save snacks for after.

Our guide to your child’s first dental visit has more tips for parents. Ask about new patient forms so you can fill them out at home.

What do dental visits look like as kids grow?

Checkups grow with your child. Early visits focus on habits and healthy development, school-age visits add sealants and bite checks, and teen visits add sports safety.

The AAPD recommends a checkup about every six months, though your dentist may suggest a different schedule based on your child’s needs. The chart below shows what to expect at each stage.

How can I prevent cavities in my child’s teeth?

Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, limit sugary drinks and snacks, and keep up regular checkups. These habits help:

• Wipe your baby’s gums with a soft, damp cloth, then brush once teeth appear.
• Use a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste for babies and toddlers, and a pea-size amount from ages 3 to 6.
• Help your child brush until they have good skills, and watch children under 6 while they brush.
• If your child has a bedtime bottle, the AAPD advises water only.
• Cut down on sipping and snacking on sugary foods and drinks. The ADA says frequent, long exposure to sugary drinks is a common cause of decay in young children.
• Drink fluoridated tap water. The CDC says children in communities with fluoridated water have fewer cavities.

Do sealants and fluoride really help prevent cavities?

Yes. Sealants and fluoride are two of the simplest ways to protect children’s teeth from cavities.

Sealants are thin coatings painted onto the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. They fill the grooves where food and germs get trapped. The CDC reports that sealants on the back teeth prevent 80% of cavities.

Fluoride varnish is painted onto teeth and helps protect them from decay. The CDC says it can prevent about one-third of cavities in baby teeth and suggests asking about it as soon as the first tooth appears.

Our team offers fluoride treatments and sealants for kids and will let you know which teeth could benefit.

Are thumb sucking and pacifiers bad for teeth?

Usually not at first. The ADA says most children stop on their own between ages 2 and 4, but sucking that continues after the adult teeth come in can affect how the mouth grows and how teeth line up.

Pacifiers affect teeth much like thumbs, though the habit is often easier to break. The AAPD adds that if thumb sucking continues past age 3, a mouth appliance may be recommended.

At each visit, our team checks for habits like thumb and pacifier sucking, encourages your child, and suggests next steps if needed. If a habit has started to affect the bite, an early look at braces and aligner care can help you plan.

Does my child need a mouthguard for sports?

If your child plays sports, yes. The ADA calls a mouthguard an essential piece of athletic gear, starting at an early age.

Mouthguards help protect teeth, lips, cheeks and gums from injuries, and the ADA notes that injuries can happen in non-contact activities too.

Custom mouthguards are made by a dentist to fit your child. Boil-and-bite guards are shaped at home, and ready-made stock guards often fit poorly.

If an injury does happen, our emergency dental care page and our guide to a broken or chipped tooth explain what to do next.

How can I make dental visits easier for a nervous child?

Keep things calm and positive, start visits early, and let your child know you’ll be right there with them. Our dental anxiety and comfort page has more ideas, and these small steps help:

• Talk about the visit in simple, upbeat words, and avoid words that might sound scary.
• Practice opening wide and counting teeth together at home.
• Stay with your child. Parents are welcome to stay during visits at our office.
• Come in for regular checkups before any problem starts, so the dental chair feels familiar.
• Ask about comfort options. Our office has offered nitrous oxide (laughing gas) for anxious patients, and our team can tell you what fits your child.

Questions & answers

Common questions