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Issue: October 2009

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IN THIS ISSUE
EARLY HOME CARE
DIET & DECAY
MAKING THE CHILD'S VISIT A FAVORABLE EXPERIENCE
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With DOFF TO A GREAT START!
 
Greetings!
 
We would like to introduce our first newsletter to you. Our goal is to keep you informed of current and timely topics of pediatric dentistry which you might find helpful and informative. Children's Dentistry Group started in June, 2009. Dr. Herer brings over 30 years of experience treating children, adolescents and special needs patients. Dr. Patenio completed her training at University of Illinois Dental School, which is the only combined dental school / hospital residency program in the Chicago-Metro area.
 
Our goal is to provide the highest quality care in a warm, friendly and professional environment. Our team of highly qualified individuals have many years of experience in the pediatric and/or health care fields. Vanessa, our hygienist, is fluent in Spanish to assist with those children and families.
 
 

Teaching

EARLY HOME CARE
Our primary concern is your child's total health and the prevention of dental disease. It is important that home oral hygiene practices be started right from birth. After each feeding, the infant's mouth, including the tongue, gum pads and cheek areas should be wiped with a moistened soft cloth to remove any residual milk or formula. As the teeth erupt, a slightly moistened infant's toothbrush can be introduced.
 
Children should never be put to bed nursing or with a bottle without wiping the mouth clean. Sugars in the residual milk or formula can break down to acids making the child more susceptible to early childhood caries, also known as baby bottle decay or "bottle rot". 
 
 
apple 2DIET AND DECAY
With the holiday season approaching, especially with Halloween, monitoring the child's sugar diet is important.  Sticky candies, lollipops, and fruit snacks with long exposure and contact to the teeth have the highest potential for tooth decay. More soluble treats such as plain chocolates and simple flavored ice creams cause less exposure. In either case brushing or rinsing out residue will help keep the teeth clean.
 
The game we played when my daughter was young, after her Halloween "Trick or Treat" around the neighborhood, we would let her keep a very limited number of treats, assign a monetary value (5, 10, 25 cents) to each type of candy and buy back those treats and she would have the money to spend in the future. We would then dispose of the bounty.
 
OutsideMAKING THE CHILD'S VISIT A FAVORABLE EXPERIENCE
It is important to make a great first impression. This is why we, as pediatric dentists, like to see the young children (6 years and younger) in the morning when they are fresh and at their best. In elementary school, the primary subjects (math, reading and writing) are taught in the morning when the children are the most receptive.
 
We also use a "tell, show, do" method of introducing the child to the new experiences in the dental setting. First explaining what we are going to do in simple straight forward language, appropriate for their age. Next we show them what we use, letting them see, smell and touch what is going to be used. Finally, we proceed with the task or procedure required. It is imperative to gain the child's trust and confidence by being honest and straight forward.
 
Equally important is gauging how much is done at one given time; to stay within the individual child's attention span. Many times it is better to have a few shorter visits, then a longer one.
PLEASE DON'T BE BASHFUL:
If you have any questions regarding pediatric dental health, please feel free to contact us by phone:
847-726-0300 or by e-mail: info@childrensdentistrygroup.com. If you have a family member or friend
with a child, please feel free to forward this newsletter to them. Thank you. 
Sincerely,
 

Paul D. Herer, D.M.D., M.S.
Diplomate: American Board of Pediatric Dentistry
 
Melissa J. Patenio, D.D.S., M.S. 
 
and the CDG TEAM!

Children's Dentistry Group, LLC