Frequently Asked Questions

You take your child to a pediatrician to treat their health needs because of the specialized training they have received. The best pediatric dentist has additional training to treat your child's oral health needs. Dr. Michelle and Dr. Grover have completed training after dental school that qualifies them to expertly treat children’s dental needs.

The sooner your child begins having regular dental checkups, the healthier their mouths will be. Early checkups detect and prevent tooth decay and cavities, which cause pain and other medical issues. When your child's teeth are healthy, they can chew their food easily, speak clearly, and have a confident smile.

Baby teeth are important to help children speak clearly and chew naturally. They also aid in forming a path permanent teeth can follow when they are ready to erupt.

Pediatric dentists Dr. Michelle and Dr. Grover are specially trained and ready to treat babies, children, and teenagers up to age 18.

The most important thing to do is to remain calm and find the knocked-out tooth. Hold it by the crown rather than the root, put the tooth in a glass of milk, and call us. We can help with children’s emergency dental needs in Palo Alto, so you can bring your child and the tooth immediately in to see our pediatric dentist. For young children, do not place the tooth back in the socket, as this could be a choking hazard.  

Teething, or the process of baby teeth coming through the gums and into the mouth, varies among babies. Generally, the lower anterior teeth are the first baby teeth to appear in the mouth between 6­ and 8 months of age. Some babies are born with teeth, some have neonatal teeth, and some begin teething after 12 months of age. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a child’s first dental visit before his/her first birthday.

The sooner, the better! Starting at birth, clean your child’s gums with a soft infant toothbrush or cloth and water. Parents should use a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste to brush baby teeth twice daily as soon as they erupt and a soft, age­-appropriate sized toothbrush. Once children are 3 to 6 years old, the amount should be increased to a pea-sized dollop, and you should continue to assist your child’s teeth brushing. Remember that young children do not have the ability to brush their teeth effectively. Children should spit out and not swallow excess toothpaste after brushing. There are many excellent kinds of toothpaste on the market today. Try different brands and flavors of toothpaste to see which ones your child likes the best. Check the ingredients of the toothpaste. Fluoride or xylitol can help to prevent cavities and should be used with adult supervision.

The need for dental X­-rays varies from child to child. Dental X­-rays are used to survey erupting teeth, check for bone diseases, check for cavities, evaluate the results of an injury, or plan orthodontic treatment. Dentists use these X­-rays to diagnose and treat conditions that cannot be detected by a clinical exam alone. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends radiographic exams every six months on children at high risk of tooth decay. Children at low risk for dental decay will require X­-rays less frequently.

Children’s dental sealants work by filling in the crevasses on the chewing surfaces of the teeth. This shuts out food particles that could get caught in the teeth, causing cavities. The application is fast and comfortable and can effectively protect teeth for many years. We use BPA­-free plastic material to seal children’s teeth.

A pulpotomy, or baby root canals, is performed if the cavity reaches the nerve of the tooth in a child. In a pulpotomy, the portion of the nerve infected by the cavity is removed, the area is sterilized and sealed. The child’s tooth is then covered by a dental crown to protect it from breaking or fracturing. A pulpotomy is usually done using a local anesthetic, but Dr. Michelle and Dr. Grover always take into consideration the individual child and their unique needs.

Thumb and pacifier sucking habits will generally only become a problem if they go on for a very long period of time. Most children stop these habits on their own, but if they are still sucking their thumbs or fingers past the age of three, a mouth appliance may be recommended by the best pediatric dentist in Palo Alto. Learn more about habit-breaking appliances by clicking here.

Soft, plastic mouthguards in Palo Alto can be used to protect a child’s teeth, lips, cheeks, and gums from sports-related injuries. A custom­-fitted mouthguard developed by the best pediatric dentist in Palo Alto at Little Bytes will protect your child from injuries to the teeth and face and even provide protection from severe injuries to the head.