Chapel Hill Pediatric Dentistry

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that your child visit a pediatric dentist within 6 months of the eruption of your child's 1st tooth. Early examination and preventive care will protect your child's smile now and in the future. At this visit, you will hold your child in your lap and Dr. Avni Rampersaud will examine the mouth to make sure the teeth and gums are developing normally. We will discuss proper hygiene. In addition, we will address fluoride supplementation, healthy diet, finger or pacifier habits, and dental trauma.

Brush your child's teeth daily as soon as they start to grow in. We all know this can be a struggle, but just like any hygiene routine, it is a struggle you must win!. Try sitting on a bed or sofa and and cradling your child's head in your lap. That way you have better vision and control. Sing a song- ABC's for the top and Twinkle Twinkle for the bottom.

The scheduled appointment is reserved specifically for your child. As a courtesy, our office will attempt to contact you for confirmation 1-2 days prior to your child's appointment. However, we do ask that the parents/guardians assume responsibility for their child's appointment time. If a 24 hour notice is not given, a fee will be charged.

If your child has an accident, please call our office as soon as possible. If it is an after-hours emergency, a pager number for the doctor-on-call will be given on the answering machine. If a permanent tooth is knocked out of the mouth, locate the tooth, as soon as possible. Please do not scrub the tooth under water.

If the procedure was in the upper jaw. the teeth, lip and surrounding tissue will be numb or asleep. Often, children do not understand the effects of local anesthesia, and may chew, scratch, suck, or play with the numb lip, longue, or cheek. These actions can cause minor irritations or they can be severe enough to cause swelling and abrasions to the tissue.