A little Q&A on loosing teeth and our favorite friend The Tooth Fairy!

Loosing teeth is a natural process that we all experience. It should be fun and exciting, not something for a child to be afraid of.

1. When should my child start losing teeth?

Most children lose their first tooth around 6 years old. The age can vary from 5-7 years due to early or late physical development.

2. Does this coincide with their first dental visit?  When should this be?

Children should be established with a dental home at 1 year of age. Their first dental visit should coincide with the age at which their teeth are erupting not exfoliating.

3.  What can I do to help alleviate anxiety about losing teeth?

Losing teeth naturally should be a fun and exciting experience. The process of natural exfoliation, or baby tooth loss, is usually not associated with discomfort and, ultimately, children can look forward to a reward from the Tooth Fairy!  Parents can reassure children that every child has to lose their small “baby” (primary) teeth in order to grow their larger “big kid” (permanent) teeth.

4. What happens if my child should swallow a tooth that falls out?

If a child accidentally swallows a tooth that has fallen out, our number one concern is whether or not the tooth was swallowed or inhaled. If your child ‘swallows’ a tooth and has no symptoms, then most likely the tooth will ‘work its way out’ through the digestive system.  If the tooth was inhaled, then we are concerned that your child’s airway could become compromised.  If your child ‘swallows’ or ‘inhales’ a tooth and then has symptoms of airway compromise such as coughing or wheezing, then your child should be taken to the pediatrician or to the nearest emergency department immediately.  If you are unsure of symptoms, then you should take your child to visit their pediatrician for an exam.

5. What happens if a baby tooth gets knocked out before its time?

If a child should experience an oral trauma that causes the tooth to be avulsed (knocked out) before it is time for the tooth to fall out naturally, then your child should visit their dentist immediately. You should have your child’s mouth examined by the dentist for any baby tooth fragments remaining and/or any damage to the permanent tooth or the soft tissue surrounding the area.  If you get an “all clear” on those factors, then the only other thing to be aware of is that your child might be toothless for a little longer than normal due to the permanent tooth not being ready to erupt yet.

6. What is the going rate for a tooth from The Tooth Fairy, according to your sources?

According to our sources… there is no set amount ofmoney or form of prize that can be given. Most of the time, the Tooth Fairytends to give money because it’s a lot easier to fly with. Occasionally, childrenrequest some of the Tooth Fairy’s special sparkle dust, so they will get asmall bag of sparkle under their pillow instead.

The amount of dollars or coins left by the Tooth Fairy depends on several different things, for example,  the size of the tooth, if the tooth had to be extracted by the pediatric dentist or came out naturally, or if it was the first or last tooth to come out.

7. Anything else you’d like to add?

Parents can visit our website http://www.drrohner.com/New-Patients/About-Teeth.aspx and view an interactive chart that shows at what ages which teeth erupt and exfoliate.

I get a lot of questions about what happens if, after you lose your tooth, you actually lose your tooth… It’s lost and you can’t find it!! Some children tend to misplace their tooth, swallow it, or don’t even notice it came out until they see the gap where it used to be. If this happens to you, do not worry! All you have to do is write the Tooth Fairy a small note and place it under your pillow as a replacement for the missing tooth. Be sure to draw a picture of your tooth so I can know what size it was.

***Copyright 2014 Angelica Rohner Pediatric Dentistry

What makes your practice stand out from the rest?

I get it, there are a lot of Pediatric Dentists out there. Especially when you live in a more populated area or "Big City". But, that's exactly why I know that we have more to offer. I love being a Pediatric Dentist and have thought long and hard about what makes us the best choice for a pediatric dentist in Birmingham. Here is what I concluded.

• First of all I am a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist and mother of young children. These two factors make a combination for amazing children's dental health care. Being a mother, we think of each child as it is our own. When regarding procedures, x-rays and such we will not perform them if we wouldn't do them on our own children. We want the best for our children, and yours too.
• As a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist and Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, we are required to take additional CE hours each year beyond what the state requires in Pediatric Dentistry.  We are also tested yearly and periodically to retain our Board Certified Status. The standards required to achieve the Board Certification are quite strenuous and not required in our field but is typically achieved by Pediatric Dentists who wish to offer a higher standard of service for their patients. (You can visit the Board of Pediatric Dentistry's website to find out more.)
• At each dental visit each child's individual hygienist and myself visits with the parent to describe findings, give oral hygiene instruction and some anticipatory guidance about what to expect with their child’s dental needs in the future.
• We teach the children about the procedures that they are receiving, telling them every step of the way what they will taste, feel and hear so that that they are not surprised or frightened by the procedure process.
• We have a highly experienced and professional staff with each exclusively working in pediatric dentistry for the majority of their careers. 
• Most staff members have a minimum of 10 years in this practice and even more years in the pediatric field.
• OSHA also knows as Infection control is extremely high priority to us. We are constantly updating our standards and raising the bar to give our patients a safe and comfortable setting in which to have their pediatric dental needs met.
• Technology and materials are important to our practice as well. We use the most proven technology and materials to constantly refine and improve our procedures that we offer to our patients for our patients.
• Last but, not least we love what we do. Our greatest success is being able to provide children with exciting dental experiences. It brings smiles to our faces when we hear our patients exclaim, "I love the dentist!".

***Copyright 2014 Angelica Rohner Pediatric Dentistry

Spring Brings Baseball, Summer Brings All Stars!

You know that the season has finally arrived when you smell the freshly cut grass of a baseball field and hear that all too familiar crack of bat meeting ball.  Cheering erupts as a smiling child rounds the bases and slides into home plate.  But with all the fun of baseball and softball season comes the risk of mouth injury by a wild ball. This seems to be all too common during this time of year, quite possibly because unlike with football, mouth guards are not standard equipment for the sport.  So first, as a mother and a dentist, let me recommend that players wear mouth protection.  But if your child does have an accident, whether it is due to a baseball, bike, trampoline or anything else, here are some tips to help you cope.

First, remain calm!  Tend to your child and assess the injury, making sure that there are no other serious problems that would require prompt medical attention.

If a tooth has been knocked out, look for the tooth or tooth pieces.  Do not handle the tooth by the root portion but only the crown.  The root is covered with cells that need to remain unharmed in order to reattach (only a permanent tooth can be reinserted).  Rinse the tooth gently and if the possible, you may place it back into the socket.  Do not worry it if it is backwards!  A dentist can help to correct positioning.  If this is not possible, place it in milk.  Now see your dentist immediately! Time is of the essence in re-implanting teeth to achieve the best outcome.  If this was a baby tooth, it should not be re-implanted but take it with your child to the dentist to be examined.

If the tooth was chipped or has been moved/loosened, contact my office as soon as possible for further instruction.  Save any pieces that you find, as they can sometimes be bonded back on.  We your child is able to be seen we will most likely need to take an X-Ray to be sure that there are no other problems with the tooth.  A splint may be necessary if the tooth is very loose.

Just remember that all of this can be prevented if a mouth guard is worn. I recommend for our patients to use the Shock Doctor brand. They come in all kinds of "cool" colors so there's got to be a match for your child! 

***Copyright 2014 Angelica Rohner Pediatric Dentistry