Early Dental Care
Ensure a Healthy Smile For Life
Dental care for young children and adolescents is important. Seeing a pediatric dentist early can set your child up for oral health success.
The highly skilled doctors at AOMS Pediatric & Children's Dentistry work with children of all ages to protect their oral health, prevent cavities, and teach positive oral hygiene habits early. Our practice in Amarillo, Texas, utilizes advanced dental X-ray technology to accurately assess a patient’s condition and identify any problems.
When Should My Child First Visit a Dentist?
The easiest way to remember the best time to bring your child to the dentist is to think first tooth, first year, first visit. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association both recommend having your child visit a dentist 6 months after their first tooth has erupted.
The first visit with us is fun, fast, and easy. We have the child sit on a parent’s lap when we perform our exam. Pediatric dentists can quickly check for the telltale signs of plaque buildup, proper tooth eruption sequence, or abnormalities without making your child hold their mouth open for a long time.
At your first appointment, your pediatric team can also teach you proper cleaning techniques, nutrition, and other preventive measures to preserve your child’s teeth. Making a few changes to your child’s diet (e.g., limiting juice consumption and not putting babies to bed with a bottle) can prevent the need for dental work later on. This first visit is also a great way to establish a positive relationship between your child and the dentist.
Why Do Babies and Young Children Need Dental Care?
Many parents and caregivers wonder why their baby needs to visit a dentist so early. More and more, dentists are seeing children as young as 2 years old who already have multiple cavities. Seeing a pediatric dentist during your baby’s first year can help prevent this decay from taking place or progressing. Your dentist can assess your child’s risk for tooth decay using quick and easy techniques, such as simply looking for plaque buildup around the gum line.
Even though baby teeth will eventually fall out, serious cases of tooth decay can cause complications that could affect your child’s permanent teeth, such as oral infections (abscesses). Tooth decay and cavities can also cause discomfort, problems with eating, and even difficulty concentrating in school. A chronic infection in your child’s mouth can weaken their immune system, which can lead to other health concerns. Starting regular dental visits early can prevent these issues.
Hear From Early Dental Care Patients
These patients can tell you about the firsthand experience undergoing early dental care at our office.
Reviews From Our Early Dental Care Patients
Dalton Reviews His Early Dental Care Procedure
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Dalton
Early Dental Care
Patient
"Dr. Lindsey—she's nice and really funny. She just looks at my teeth. She has a treasure chest. She's a good person. I see her right after someone cleans my teeth. I like to have my teeth cleaned here. You should come and see Dr. Lorra; she cleans teeth."
Allison Reviews Her Early Dental Care Procedure
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Allison
Early Dental Care
Patient
"Allison: What do you think about Dr. Lindsey? Son: She was really nice. Allison: She's really nice. What did you like the best? Son: The games on the TV. Allison: Where? The games on the TV? He walked in and was very happy to be here. He saw some computers over in the corner and went to playing some games, and they called his name, and he hugged Miss Autumn and went straight back. He had absolutely no problem. Being a nurse, you do think of things a little bit outside of the box: did they have a crash cart? Did they have people who knew advanced cardiac life support? Did they have physicians in the building? Over and above, come and see Dr. Lindsey. This place has everything you need in one building. It has a great staff, it has great physicians, and it has great emergency equipment. It has everything you need, and they can do everything right here. It's phenomenal; I'm so glad Amarillo has a place like this."
Krista Reviews Her Early Dental Care Procedure
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Krista
Early Dental Care
Patient
"What brought me into AOMS Pediatric & Children's Dentistry was my general dentist had referred my kids to Dr. Lindsey. They wanted my kids to get into a specialist that could really do a better job with getting the kids to sit still for clean X-rays. In doing so, the X-rays actually showed more cavities than our general dentist had caught. It makes me feel comfortable in bringing them here because I know that my kids enjoy coming here. Yes! Can you believe it? They enjoy coming to the dentist. In fact, my daughter even told me not that long ago that she misses Dr. Lindsey. Krista: Tell me what you like about Dr. Lindsey. Son: She's a good dentist. Krista: What makes her good? Son: She doesn't hurt my teeth very badly. Krista: Oh, that's a good answer. What about you? What do you like about Dr. Lindsey? Daughter: That she gives me toys after I'm done."
Kennedi Reviews Her Early Dental Care Procedure
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Kennedi
Early Dental Care
Patient
"My name is Kennedi, and I came to AOMS Pediatrics to have my teeth cleaned. What I like best about Dr. Lindsey is that she always makes me feel comfortable, and she cleans my teeth really gentle. When I first walked in for like the first time ever, I was really nervous. Dr. Lindsey made me feel really calm. She asked me, “How was my day?” And like, “What did I do at school, and what’s my favorite subject?” By doing that, she made me think about other things, and now I kind of like coming. Everyone’s so nice and they just make you feel at home and comfortable. I would definitely recommend AOMS Pediatrics."
Aryana Reviews Her Early Dental Care Procedure
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Aryana
Early Dental Care
Patient
"My name’s Aryana, and I’m from Amarillo, Texas, and I came to see the dentist. I love the environment, and the staff here are really nice, and they really take their time. I feel really safe here. The doctors here are awesome. Dr. Ruiz is very nice, and she makes me feel very comfortable. Dr. Ruiz has very funny jokes. I love my great smile. Thank you, Amarillo Dentistry. Come see Dr. Ruiz. She’s the best!"
Other Questions? We’re Here to Help
If you have questions about a procedure, financing, or anything else, please reach out to us at any time. Our team is here to help, and we look forward to caring for you and your loved ones.