Pediatric Dentistry Blog and Videos

Dr. B’s Cleaning Club

Parents always ask me to reinforce their oral hygiene and diet rules with their children.

They tell me that their children will listen to anything I tell them.

At each appointment, we discuss Dr. B’s Cleaning Club At-Home Care Rules.

Sometimes, this is enough.

However, most often, I have been told that a little Dr. B reinforcement at home would be nice.

I have made these animated explainer videos to “have my parents’ back” and to help reinforce excellent habits.

They are 2 minutes long and fun to watch with your children.

And, guess what…This 2 minutes can be watched while brushing our teeth almost as a timer.

Your Visit to the Dentist

When Do Children’s Teeth Develop?

We have two sets of teeth during our life: 20 primary teeth and 32 permanent teeth. The 20 primary, or baby teeth, are essential for chewing, speech, and holding space for permanent teeth. Primary teeth start to develop In Utero and emerge in the mouth in the first 3 years of life. It is important to remember that even though your child will lose these teeth, they still need to be taken care of. As soon as teeth develop in your child’s mouth, it is possible for your child to develop a cavity. Beginning healthy oral hygiene habits at an early age will teach children the importance of maintaining these habits throughout life.

Teeth develop as buds similar to flower buds. They take their time and will emerge when ready. Primary tooth buds are developing during pregnancy and the permanent tooth buds start developing within the first year of life.

Children gradually lose their baby teeth around ages 6-12. The first adult teeth to come in are molars. Molars are important because they aid in shaping your child’s face. They also affect the position and health of the other adult teeth that are about to develop.  Once all of the permanent teeth are in, some children may begin to wear braces (for the first time or second time). It is especially important to maintain healthy oral hygiene with braces. It’s also important to wear a mouth guard while playing sports, especially those that are high impact sports. Around age 17-21 the last teeth may emerge — the wisdom teeth.  The wisdom teeth will be the last of all 32 permanent teeth that develop.

Tips to Maintain a Healthy Smile

1. Begin cleaning your child’s mouth even before teeth emerge.  Massaging the gums with a moistened washcloth is preferable after feedings.
2. Once your child’s teeth start to come into the mouth, brush using a children’s toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste in an amount no more than the size of a grain of rice.
3. Help your child brush his or her teeth until they are able to do it themselves, usually around age 8. Then, supervise their brushing to make sure they brush thoroughly for 2 minutes, twice a day.
4. Encourage healthy eating habits that include a diet with plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Serve nutritious snacks to your kids and limit sweets as a special treat only.
5. Floss daily.
6. Maintain regular dental visits every 6 months.

Click here to get more great information about you child’s dental development and tips to maintain a healthy mouth.

Routine Dental Cleaning and Exam for Your Child

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends children visit their pediatric dentist at least twice a year for a routine cleaning and exam. These visits are important to ensure a lifetime of good hygiene habits. During your child’s dental visit, Dr. B will discuss preventive measures, detect any decay, and discuss any further treatment that may be needed. These routine visits are also important to discuss your child’s rapid growth and changes in their dentition and facial features.  Dr. B and his staff will discuss diet and oral hygiene with your child, as well as proper technique. Dr. B encourages each child to become members of his Cleaning Club.  These habits include brushing a minimum of two times per day and flossing every night, as well as maintaining a healthy diet.

The Importance of Routine Dental Visits

During periodical dental visits, preventive measures for your child are discussed. One of the major topics of discussion Dr. B has as a pediatric dentist includes a healthy diet. Dr. B will relay to your child the importance of a diet filled with fruits, vegetables and proteins, along with water and white milk. He will explain that sweets, juices, and sodas should be considered “special treats”. We all know that “special treats” would only be considered special if we have them on special occasions. Other preventive measures include routine x-rays, topical fluoride application, sealants on appropriate teeth, and evaluation of growth and development.

Cavities are another major discussion topic at a routine cleaning and exam. Primary (baby) teeth get cavities. As a matter of fact, early childhood dental cavities are 5 times more common than asthma and 7 times more common than hay fever. Cavities in primary teeth need to be treated just as adult teeth, even though they will eventually fall out. We treat dental decay not only to help prevent infection and pain, but also to aid in eating and keeping space for permanent teeth. Lack of treatment of dental decay is considered dental neglect. Dental decay can result in future pain, swelling, infection, and possible emergency room visits.

It’s important to monitor growth and development of your child’s teeth during these visits as well. Growth is not only jaw growth, but also the transition from the primary dentition to mixed dentition (baby and adult teeth) to permanent dentition. Dr. B will discuss with you the order of these exfoliations and the approximate ages at which to expect this. He will evaluate the probability of the future need for braces based upon your child’s individual growth and development. He will also discuss whether your child would be a good candidate for orthodontics and at which age they should begin.

As you can see, periodic visits are not only about cleaning, but also about observation and conversation. Our pediatric dental group is concerned with seeing the full picture of dental health in children.  If your child is due for their six month cleaning and exam, please contact our office today at 901-415-2536 to schedule an appointment.

Dr. B’s Cleaning Club

The purpose of Dr. B’s Cleaning Club is to encourage his patients to practice good oral hygiene and maintain a healthy diet. Dr. B wants to be sure that we are rewarding each child for their consistency and efforts at good oral hygiene, rather than if they have cavities or not.

There are 3 key requirements for your child to be a member of Dr. B’s Cleaning Club:

• He/She should brush their teeth at least two times per day for 2 minutes at a time (with help, of course).
• Floss at least one time per day at night.
• Have a healthy diet including fruits, vegetables, and proteins along with water and white milk. Limit sweets, juices, and sodas as “special treats” only.

Other than the obvious benefits of being in the Cleaning Club, Dr. B offers rewards for his Cleaning Club members. Cleaning Club members get a special “Cleaning Club” sticker and get entered into a monthly drawing for a gift card. How cool is that?!

When your child comes for their regular six month cleaning and exam, our dental hygienist will have the parent or guardian complete the Cleaning Club sheet. It is a very short page, where the parent/guardian will answer confidential questions regarding your child’s oral hygiene. Dr. B will review this page and discuss the Cleaning Club with you and your child after their cleaning. This sheet also serves as an opportunity for Dr. B to discuss any other special concerns the parents may want Dr. B to discuss with their child.

It is important to understand that sometimes cavities just happen! Your child might be the best Cleaning Club member and still get cavities due to the tooth structure and the amount of cavity causing bacteria that some people carry. We need to first control what we can–diet and oral hygiene. How cavities occur will be in a future blog post.

Loot for the Troops

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It’s that time of year again! It’s time for Dr. B’s Loot for the Troops event!

Since 2008, Dr. B and staff have held their annual Loot for the Troops event here in our office. This event has been extremely popular, mostly because it’s a WIN-WIN-WIN. The children bring in their left over Halloween candy (win #1) to send to our troops overseas (win #2) and this qualifies them to be entered into a contest for a chance to win a prize from Dr. B (win #3). Also, parents get rid of the excess unwanted Halloween candy…and for a good cause. The children will receive a goody bag for their participation, as well as being entered into Dr. B’s contest.

In the past, Dr. B’s Loot for the Troops event has taken place for just one afternoon. This year we want to accommodate everyone a little better and spread this event out over 3 days. We will be accepting candy throughout our normal office hours during these the days (closed for lunch from 1pm-2pm) instead of one big event. The children (or just a parent) can come by our office at any time during these dates and drop off their left over Halloween candy. Each child will receive ONE raffle ticket per pound of unopened candy and a goody bag. There is a maximum of FIVE raffle tickets per child; however, the children can bring as much candy as they would like. The grand prize this year is $100.  The candy is shipped to Operation Gratitude, a non-profit, all volunteer corporation sending care packages to the troops deployed all over the world.

This event is an opportunity for us to teach children the benefits of avoiding going overboard on candy. In addition to being bad for their teeth, too much candy can lead to hyperactivity and weight gain. In some cases, the wrong types of candy can also lead to broken teeth and damaged braces. Caries (the dental decay process) is, according to US Dept of Health and Human Services, the most common chronic disease of childhood and is directly related to socioeconomic status. This event is great not only for all the reasons listed above, but also to serve as a public service statement to everyone to remember oral health is extremely important to our children.

Food Allergy Friendly Halloween

​Now that the weather is finally cooling off and the sun is starting to set earlier, fall is in full swing! Fall is full of holiday spirit with numerous opportunities for special treats (candy, sodas, etc.). For those with food allergies, this season can be extra stressful. This Halloween season we wanted to share a relatively new project, the Teal Pumpkin Project, brought to you by the Food Allergy Research & Education program. I think this is such a great idea that I had to share.

The Teal Pumpkin Project

The Teal Pumpkin Project is designed so that children with food allergies can enjoy trick-or-treating just much as other children. The idea is to identify your house as a food allergy friendly home with a teal colored pumpkin or Teal Pumpkin Project sign and pass out non-food treats. Glow sticks, stickers, and other small toys of the like are examples of items you can pass out to the children rather than candy. According to their website, households from all 50 states and 14 countries participated last year. If you are interested in participating or would like more information, you can visit their website at www.foodallergy.org/teal-pumpkin-project.

Dr. B and his staff hope that everyone has a fun, safe Halloween!

Your First Pediatric Dental Visit with Dr. B

When you come to my office for your first pediatric dental visit you will be warmly greeted by my staff here at Dr. B’s Pediatric Dentistry in Memphis. You will be greeted with a warm smile as soon as you step into our friendly environment. The office is a happy yellow with a professional yet child friendly décor.  Our front office staff will gather your pre-filled out new patient packet or you can complete these forms at the office.  Once completed, an assistant or hygienist will escort you to our conference room. Our hygienists or assistants will discuss what services will be provided for your child at this time.  My staff and I are determined to ensure that each child will be seen on time in a very efficient manner.  Your child’s first appointment needs will be addressed based upon your concerns and your child’s age.

Children Under 3

If your child is under three, there is a good chance that we will be completing a “knee to knee” lap exam. We may also apply a professional topical fluoride varnish treatment at their first pediatric dental visit. This appointment will allow us to discuss your child’s Caries Risk Assessment form, as well as assist you with guidance through oral hygiene, diet, growth and development. We will not force your child to clean his or her teeth.  If any additional treatment other than this simple exam is necessary, then we will discuss your options at this time.  There are some children that are ready for a cleaning even as young as age two.  For these children, we will certainly complete this as well, as long as they and you are comfortable.

Children 3 and Over

For children 3 years and above, I expect that my hygienists and I can talk your child through a cleaning while having a fabulous experience. Again if your child is not ready, we will not force them against their will. I encourage parents to allow their child to come back alone with the hygienist. I do understand how difficult this is for parents and am sensitive to this.  A majority of children do very well once my staff is allowed to establish a one on one relationship with them and gain their undivided attention. We always allow you to peek in on your child once they are situated. Be careful when peeking in on your child. Once your child sees you, the focus they have established with the hygienist will be short lived. My office is laid out in a way that even though you may be not in the same room, you are never far from your child. If your child is not ready for a cleaning or we anticipate your child may be getting upset, we will come get you immediately.

Our overall goal is happy, healthy dental patients for life. At your first pediatric dental visit, your child will have a cleaning, exam and professional topical fluoride varnish application.  X-rays may be taken based upon your child’s age and level of cooperation.

After your child’s pediatric dental visit is completed, you will be brought to the hygiene bay or the conference room for discussion with me, Dr. B.  I will spend as much time with you as necessary to discuss all of my findings and answer any and all questions that you may have for me.

Bee-fore You Leave

Once we are finished, your child will receive a prize and get to play a game in Dr. B’s contest corner while you check out.

It is very important to me that you and your child have been warmly welcomed, treated with kindness, respect, and professionalism while at my office and smiles on both you and your child’s faces when leaving in a timely and efficient manner. We are happy to answer any special concerns you have.

Memphis Children’s Dentist

Which Memphis Children’s Dentist should you chose if you live in this West Tennessee and North Mississippi area?  This can be a very difficult decision for you.

There are a number of great Memphis children’s dentists.  Each dental practice, however, has its own vibe or feel.  The Memphis Children’s Dentist scene (East Memphis, Germantown and Southaven MS) ranges from large multi-location, multi-doctor practices to small practices to boutique style practices.  These children’s dental offices/pediatric dental offices all can treat the dental needs of your child.  Dr. B has chosen to have a boutique style pediatric dental office.  His office focuses not only on treating your child’s dental needs but also on treating them as individuals to help ensure positive and even fun dental experiences. Please give us a chance to see if Dr. B’s office is the right place for you.

Dr. B’s office prides themselves in providing high quality dental care in a safe and nurturing environment.  We also pride ourselves in treating each child as an individual in order to create happy, healthy dental patients for life.  Our boutique style pediatric dental office caters to those that appreciate efficiency, timeliness, respect and most importantly a family type environment.

Dr. B’s Mission Statement

“We pride ourselves in providing high quality care in a safe and nurturing environment through individualized attention. Our goal is to create happy, healthy dental patients for life.”

Since Dr. B does not advertise, the best way to learn about about our office to to read some of our 900+ reviews from patient families and visit our Facebook.

We really hope that you will give us a chance.  Please just call Ms. Donna or Stella at 901-415-2536 or email us at info@drblen.com.

Child’s First Dental Visit

What age should my child’s first dental visit be?!  You want to take your infant child to the dentist but don’t know when!  When and what age would be the best for my child’s first dental visit?  What should I expect from the first dental visit?  These are common questions parents have regarding their child’s dental health. This blog is designed to answer your questions about your child’s first dental visit and what to expect during this visit.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Academy of Pediatrics suggest your child’s first dental visit to be by age one.  They both agree your child needs a dental home by age one. This is easily remembered by the slogan: ” first dental visit by first birthday”. This article: Brushing Up on Oral Health: Never Too Early to Start is a great source of knowledge to explain the importance of establishing a dental home for your child at an early age.

“First visit by first birthday” should be the time for your child’s first dental visit!

The first step to establish a dental home for your child is scheduling a visit with a pediatric dentist for an “infant oral health” examination. This initial visit allows the pediatric dental specialist to evaluate each child’s developing dentition. The first dental visit also provides an environment to discuss important information with parents concerning anticipatory guidance, oral hygiene, diet instructions, trauma prevention and fluoride use.

Please feel free to contact our office with any questions you may have regarding your child’s oral health care. It would truly be a pleasure to serve you and your children in any way to ensure good oral hygiene and dental health.

What age should your child’s first dental visit be?  Remember, “First visit by first birthday” should be the time for your child’s first dental visit! Call us at 901-415-2536 to schedule your child’s first dental visit.

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