Children's Dental Associates - David M Petrarca

Our office, as well as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Dental Association (ADA), and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommend establishing a "Dental Home" for your child by one year of age. The dental home represents an ongoing relationship between a dentist and a patient, whereby oral health care can be delivered in a comprehensive, accessible and coordinated way.

We provide 24-hour coverage for dental emergencies. In the event of an urgent dental situation, please call us as soon as possible so that we may assess your child's needs and if necessary, schedule an appointment quickly. For an after-hours emergency, call 781-391-8300 and follow the instructions on how to reach the dentist on call.

For more information concerning pediatric dentistry, please visit the website for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. The pediatric dentist has an extra two to three years of specialized training after dental school, and is dedicated to the oral health of children from infancy through the teenage years.

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends an orthodontic screening for children by the age of 7 years. At age 7 the teeth and jaws are developed enough so that the dentist or orthodontist can see if there will be any serious bite problems in the future. Most of the time treatment is not necessary at age 7, but it gives the parents and dentist time to watch the development of the patient and decide on the best mode of treatment. When you have time on your side you can plan ahead and prevent the formation of serious problems.