When talking with parents about their child's oral health habits, I often here the phrase "they brush their own teeth." But what exactly does this mean? For a 2 year old it usually means they suck on the brush. For a 5 year old they will normally swish the brush around for a few seconds then suck off the toothpaste. For kids 6 and older, and most of the rest of us, brushing means about 15-30 seconds. So, what is appropriate brushing for each age group. I always suggest p

Back in the 80's "behavior management" was taught in pediatric dental residencies because a pediatric dentist was likely to have some children that would not "cooperate", and the dental treatment must get done, so the dentist needed to know how to manage the "uncooperative" child. People always wonder how I can treat children. "Aren't they always crying and resisting treatment?" So, I'd like to just share a few of my thoughts on how we "manage" children's behaviors in our p

Most pediatric dentists these days are "in network" with one or more dental insurance companies. Because the majority of families have some sort of coverage, it only makes sense that a practice would accept the major carriers. Why, because many families with several children would find it difficult, if not impossible, to pay out of pocket for dental care, especially extensive restorative treatment. So, when your employer has a sign-up for dental insurance here's what I sugg

There seems to be varying opinions out there on when a child should have their first dental check-up. It's usually the pediatrician that suggests a dental visit. I've heard 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, or after all the teeth are in. The American Dental Association and The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry suggest within 6 months of the first tooth erupting or at least by age 1. Here's what we suggest here at AllStar Smiles 4 Kids based on my 36 years of experience in p