Children's Dentistry

1st Advantage Dental of New York offers children’s dental care in a friendly environment. Parents love the great service and our ability to calm even the most nervous youngster. Children’s dental care services include dental checkups and cleanings, sealants, fluoride treatment, fillings and space maintainers.

Dental Checkups and Cleanings — The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends your child’s first dental visit after the first tooth erupts and no later than the child’s first birthday. This allows the dentist to do a baseline oral care exam and provide parents with children’s dental care information.

Everyone, especially kids, should see the dentist to have their teeth cleaned every six months. Decay is more likely to happen when kids are young so it is important to have regular appointments. During each teeth cleaning appointment, you and your child can expect a:

• Full oral exam to identify changes in the tissues of the mouth.
• Diagnosis of any dental conditions. The dentist will perform the exam and look for cavities or other dental conditions.
• Preventative cleaning. The hygienist will clean and polish the teeth to remove sticky bacteria, called plaque. When plaque builds up, it can cause tooth decay. The hygienist will also teach your child proper brushing and flossing as needed, and answer any dental questions you may have.
• Full-mouth x-rays are needed every 3-5 years while bitewing (partial) x-rays are needed every year. X-rays are very important in finding cavities not seen by the naked eye. We use low levels of x-rays to make them as safe as possible.

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Sealants — Sealants are a thin coating of protective material placed on the tooth in an effort to prevent bacteria and sugar from collecting and forming a cavity. This is a quick, easy procedure. Sealants are common for kids and teens because decay is more likely to develop early in life.

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Flouride treatment — Fluoride is placed on teeth after a dental cleaning to help strengthen tooth enamel and make it less likely for a cavity to form. Flouride treatment is typically given once a year, or as needed, to all children under age 14. Flouride is either given as a foam or gel placed in trays set over the child’s teeth.

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Fillings — Fillings are necessary when small cavities are found. Parents and kids have the choice of what type of fillings are used.

White, or composite, fillings are designed to match the color of the tooth. White fillings are often used on front teeth for a more natural look. White fillings do cost a little more and may not be strong enough in certain situations.

Silver, or amalgam, fillings are generally stronger and less costly than white fillings; however, they look less natural in the mouth. Silver fillings are often used in the back teeth where they are less noticeable and where chewing force requires stronger fillings.

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Space maintainers — Space maintainers hold the place of a tooth that has prematurely fallen out of a child's mouth due to decay or injury. A space maintainer can be a band or crown attached to another tooth. The dentist will remove the space maintainer once the permanent tooth starts to grow in. If a space maintainer is not put in the vacant space the surrounding teeth can crowd and take over that space. This makes the permanent tooth come in crooked or crowded which can lead to difficulties in chewing and talking.

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Children’s Dentistry (non-specialty) and Dental Care Service Locations
Bethlehem (in Delmar), Clifton Park, Colonie (in Albany), Delmar, Hudson, Latham, Queensbury, Rotterdam (in Schenectady), Saratoga (in Saratoga Springs), Troy and White Plains.