Why Is A Pediatric Dentist Better For My Child?
The pediatric dentist has an extra two years of specialized training and is dedicated to the oral health of children, dentistry for children, from infancy through the teenage years. The very young, pre-teens, and teenagers all need different approaches in dealing with their behavior, guiding their dental growth and development, and helping them avoid future dental problems. The pediatric dentist is best qualified to meet these needs.
Our Services
Check-ups/Cleanings
Digital X-rays
Sealant and White Fillings
Sedation
Often called “laughing gas,” nitrous oxide is a very safe, mild sedative that will help your child remain relaxed during dental procedures. Other options for sedation can be discussed at length with your dentist.
Extractions
Tooth removal is sometimes necessary for many reasons, including pain, infection or orthodontic treatment. Your dentist will be able to advise the best course of treatment.
Habit Applicances
Dr. Karly
Working with children was always the goal for Dr Karly. After graduating from dental school, she knew there was no other way she’d want to spend her career than creating positive, fun dental experiences for children.
Dr. Karly was born in Trinidad, but grew up in South Florida with her family. She attended the University of Florida in Gainesville for 10 years! She first earned her bachelors degree in Science and Human Nutrition, then went onto dental school and finally pediatric dental residency. Dr. Karly then went on to become a Diplomat of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Karly is passionate about infant education and aesthetic and preventative dentistry.
Dr. Karly lives in the west with her husband and their two daughters. Her family loves the beach, kayaking, paddle boarding and traveling.
Our Team
Location
Driving directions when coming from the EAST.
From the Beetham Highway, proceed west along Wrightson Road onto Audrey Jeffers Highway to the lights at the Maraval Parkway intersection (right after the stadium).
Make a right onto Maraval Parkway and merge onto Ariapita Ave. Take the first left onto Belle Smythe Street.
Belle Smythe dead ends at Mucurapo Road. Turn left onto Mucurapo Road and proceed west passing Fatima and Mucurapo school.
We are a 2 storey light green building on the left hand side immediately after Santa Maria Plaza. We are not in the plaza. Our office occupies the second floor up the stairs on the right of the building.
Driving directions when coming from the WEST
From Western Main Road, Cocorite proceed east onto Mucurapo Road (keep left). You will pass Hott Shop. We are on the right hand side directly next door to Trinidad Hose.
We are a 2 storey light green building. Our office occupies the second floor up the stairs on the right of the building.
Driving directions when coming from the EAST.
From the Beetham Highway, proceed west along Wrightson Road onto Audrey Jeffers Highway to the lights at the Maraval Parkway intersection (right after the stadium).
Make a right onto Maraval Parkway and merge onto Ariapita Ave. Take the first left onto Belle Smythe Street.
Belle Smythe dead ends at Mucurapo Road. Turn left onto Mucurapo Road and proceed west passing Fatima and Mucurapo school.
We are a 2 storey light green building on the left hand side immediately after Santa Maria Plaza. We are not in the plaza. Our office occupies the second floor up the stairs on the right of the building.
Driving directions when coming from the WEST
From Western Main Road, Cocorite proceed east onto Mucurapo Road (keep left). You will pass Hott Shop. We are on the right hand side directly next door to Trinidad Hose.
We are a 2 storey light green building. Our office occupies the second floor up the stairs on the right of the building.
FAQ
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When should I start cleaning my child's teeth?
When should I expect my child's first tooth to erupt?
The first tooth (usually a bottom front one) comes in around 6 months old; however, this varies widely between children and can be as late as 9 months. Usually, children have all of their 20 primary or baby teeth, by age 3.
While your child is teething, it is common for their gums to be sore and tender. Rubbing the area
with a cold wash cloth or giving them a teething ring may help with the symptoms. Your child
may be uncomfortable or cranky during this time and you may notice excessive drooling.
My child drinks from a bottle, is this ok?
Baby bottle tooth decay happens most often when a baby is put to bed with a bottle filled with formula milk or juice. This can happen if babies are breast fed through the night over long periods of time. In these situations, sugar is allowed to sit on the teeth all night long. Baby bottle tooth decay usually affects the front teeth first, but can eventually affect all baby teeth if the habit persists. It is extremely important that once your child’s teeth erupt, they are not put to bed with any liquid besides water. After the last feeding of the night, the mouth should be wiped with a damp rag. If teeth are present, a baby soft toothbrush should be used.
My child sucks their thumb or a pacifier. When should they stop?
It is very normal for your child to have one of these habits until around the age of three. At this point, you can start taking note of the habit and gently encouraging your child to stop. A good method to try is praising the child when the sucking stops but ignoring the habit while it is going on. Even before the permanent teeth start to erupt, we may notice negative changes to their bite that may be lasting if the habit persists. Unfortunately, like any habit, the longer the child has it, the harder it is to break.
When should I start flossing my child's teeth?
Flossing is necessary to clean between the teeth where the toothbrush has difficulty reaching. It is especially important that the parent floss between the child’s teeth when they notice that 2 teeth are touching. In baby teeth, this is more common in back teeth than in front. Research shows that your child will have the skills to floss their own teeth around the age of 9-10 years old.
How can I recognize a cavity?
A cavity is simply a hole in the tooth caused by bacteria. Some cavities are big and easy to recognize. Others are smaller, hidden between teeth, and can only be seen on an x-ray. Dentists are trained to notice the beginning of a cavity, therefore regular visits can help prevent cavities from getting bigger and requiring a filling.
At what age should a child have their first dental visit?
The International Academy of Paediatric Dentistry recommends that children have their first dental check up by their first birthday. Seeing the child early gives the dentist an opportunity to examine the mouth and confirm normal oral development. This also gives the dentist a chance to provide prevention advice and make the best care plan for your child. It gives parents the opportunity to discuss feeding practices, teething, and mouth habits, which are extremely important for this age group. It is important to remember that cavities are entirely preventable and starting early makes this even more possible.
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At what age should my child start losing baby teeth and getting their grown up teeth?
Usually a child loses their first tooth around age 6. Around this time, children also get their first permanent molar. These molars come in behind their last baby tooth in the back of their mouth. Helping your child clean these new back teeth is extremely important, as they are the most common permanent teeth to get cavities.
What causes cavities?
Dental decay (or cavities) is the most common chronic disease of childhood. Cavities are caused when bacteria make acids that dissolve your teeth. These bacteria use sugar as food. Children usually get this bacteria as babies from their parents. This means that is extremely important for your baby’s health to take care of your own teeth. Healthy habits such as twice daily brushing and limiting sugary foods and drinks can prevent cavities.
Why are baby teeth important? Don't they fall out anyway?
Treating baby teeth is important for preventing pain and infection caused by advanced decay. Research shows that tooth pain is one of the leading causes of missed school days. Cavities are often sensitive to cold, hot and sugary foods. The last baby tooth remains in the mouth until around age 12, and holds the space to guide grown up teeth into the correct position. Premature tooth loss due to large cavities may cause your child to lose the space necessary for their grown up teeth to fit.
When can my child brush their teeth on their own?
Children cannot adequately clean their own teeth until about age 6 due to their motor development. Since many children want to do it on their own before then, a good idea is to let the child brush and have the parent ‘check’ after. After age 6, it is especially important to focus on the permanent molars erupting behind their baby teeth.
What do I do if my child falls and bumps their mouth?
Depending on the severity of the bump, you should call your dentist immediately, as some treatments for injury have a better prognosis if performed quickly. Often teeth will become loose, change position, or fracture after they have been hit. The effects of trauma to either the primary or permanent teeth vary widely and it is impossible to know right away how the body will react. X-rays and a clinical exam can give the dentist a better idea of what to expect.
With baby teeth, it is common to take the ‘wait and see approach’ after injury. It is possible that an injury to a primary tooth could affect the permanent tooth above it. If this is the case, your dentist will usually wait until the permanent tooth comes in to treat it. If your child has knocked out a permanent tooth, immediately place it in milk and call the dentist. It is important that you do not dry or clean off the tooth. This specific dental emergency requires immediate treatment to give the tooth the best chance of survival. Injuries to permanent teeth are often more serious than to primary, and the patient usually requires long term follow up care.
What is the difference between a paediatric (children's) dentist and a general dentist?
Paediatric dentists complete 2 to 3 years of additional training after dental school to specialize in treating children and adolescents. During this training period, the paediatric dentist becomes proficient in such areas as paediatric sedation techniques, hospital dentistry, child dental and facial development, paediatric pharmacology, trauma, child behavior management, basic and advanced cardiac life support, paediatric medicine, interceptive orthodontics, and several other pertinent subjects. Simply, paediatric dentists are to dentistry what paediatricians are to medicine.
Dr. Karly’s Tips
Our goal at Trinidad Children’s Dentistry is for your child to receive comfortable dental treatment and look forward to coming back. Here are some helpful hints that can make the appointment much more enjoyable for your child:
- As much as possible, refrain from reminding your child of past negative medical or dental experiences
- Try not to ask the child if he or she is ‘scared’ or ‘nervous’. Often, these words alone can create anxiety.
- We find that children do much better with child friendly terminology. Please do not use the words, “shot”, “injection”, “needle”, etc.
- As much as you can, allow us to explain the visit and procedures to your child.