Oklahoma City Pediatric Dentist

To be legally classified as a specialist in pediatric dentistry extra years of post graduate training are required. Dr. Kari Bender isn’t a pediatric dentist specialist but she does have a love for treating children and she has the training necessary to provide for the dental needs of most children. That, combined with her gentle touch, helps to make children of all ages comfortable with her. Many families enjoy the convenience of all going to the same dentist, with the assurance that if any complex problems arise requiring the attention of a specialist, that referral can be made.

Our entire staff knows how to make your child’s dental visit fun. Our first goal for each child is to help her or him develop a healthy attitude toward dental care. It is best to start your child’s dental education early by beginning to visit the dentist on a regular basis when they are young. About age three is a good time to start. At this age, all the baby teeth should be erupted and they are old enough to understand the visit. And if visits are begun before they actually need any treatment, it provides a good foundation of positive dental experiences.

There are a number of things you can do to help your child develop good dental habits that will last a lifetime:

• Start cleaning teeth early. Once you see a tooth develop begin daily cleaning with a clean damp cloth. When you and your child are ready you can switch to a small soft brush.
• Begin visiting the dentist at an early age. Most children are ready to begin visiting the dentist by age three.
• Make twice a day brushing a fun but essential part of the daily routine. Start by brushing for them, and when they are old enough to do the job themselves, let them take over. Make brushing fun by adding songs or games to the routine. Continue to supervise brushing until you are sure that your child has developed an effective routine.
• Avoid negative reinforcement. Some parents will threaten children or try to scare them into taking care of their teeth by talking about visiting the dentist as an unpleasant experience. This will create problems for both you and your child down the road when they end up actually needing care.
• Limit the amount of fluoride toothpaste on the brush. Children tend to swallow some of the toothpaste, in spite of your instructions about spitting it out. To avoid having them ingest too much fluoride, use a small amount of toothpaste (about the size of a pea). A little bit of fluoride strengthens the teeth—too much can cause the teeth to become spotted.
• Incorporate flossing as early as possible. Nothing gets the hidden areas clean like a good flossing. Once your child has the dexterity to handle the floss they can take over this job. At around age 8, many children can manage flossing. And if you floss yourself and present this to them as something "big people" do, they will feel flattered and motivated.
• Choose the right dentist. Many adult cases of dental phobia can be traced back to a dentist who was indifferent to their comfort or was rough with them as a child.

To set up your child's dental appoint, please call us at 405-341-9351 or visit our make an appointment page. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Select one of the topics below to learn more:

Preparing your child for their dental visit
Your child's first dental appointment
Toothbrushing and flossing for children