There are few sights as joyful as the look of a happy child.

The excitement and laughter; the big, sparkling grin; these are all affirmative signs of that youngster's glee. But when a child suffers from painful or unattractive dental problems, they often find little to smile about.

Without healthy teeth children can be at a significant disadvantage for developing self-confidence, proper chewing, the ability to speak clearly, and much more. Helping kids develop first-rate oral health is a key component of responsible parenting. That tutelage includes education in brushing and flossing, making wise food and snack choices, and having regular dental visits (and procedures, as needed).

Keeping children in good general health is extremely important for promoting dental health, says Dr. Gina Dorfman of Dentistry for Kids and Adults. "A mouth is often a reflection of what is going on with the rest of the body," Dorfman said. "Malnutrition, sleep problems, poor breathing, medications, allergies, medical problems, genetic conditions and other issues all dictate how a child's mouth will develop and whether or not teeth and gums will remain disease free."

Alleviating First-time Dental Jitters
It's important that parents bring their children to the dentist early in life. This enables discussion of individual issues or concerns affecting the child's oral health, and provides the tot with a head start on learning good oral habits, said Dorfman, whose Canyon Country and Valencia practices offer adult and pediatric dentistry, including orthodontics, cosmetic and periodontal care. She adds that children's first dental visits should start between the ages of 12 to 18 months, with regular appointments generally occurring every six months throughout childhood, though possibly more frequent if a child has dental problems.

Dr. Bobby Irani of Valencia Dental Arts emphasizes the value of making dental visits low key and upbeat. To accomplish this, dental experts recommend parents use positive words and body language to describe the dental experience. They should also avoid raising their children's fear level by letting them hear old scary stories about unpleasant dental visits they had as kids.

Such tranquility and absence of apprehension can pay off in the future: Many dentist-phobic adults began as frightened children at the distal end of a drill. Those negative memories can lead to neglect of the teeth, which can in turn lead to other issues, including serious tooth and gum disease, and health problems.

"Build an early relationship between the dentist and your child," Irani advises. "Don't let the first introduction be a traumatic one. Let your first appointment be just a visual exam, not an emergency toothache. This will build trust between the dentist and the child."

Don't Pursue a "Perfect" Smile too Soon
As often seen today, great emphasis is placed on "perfect" smiles where teeth snugly fit together. When asked how that applies to young patients, Irani, who specializes in general, family, and cosmetic dentistry reassuringly answered: "Children should not have a perfect smile. If they don't have spaces between their teeth there will not be enough room for the larger adult teeth."

Should parents suspect their child needs braces, or has other tooth alignment or bite-related concerns, an early orthodontic consultation should be scheduled, Irani added.

Orthodontics makes an enormous difference in a child's teeth as well as in their oral health, reports says Dr. Mehran A. Abbassian, whose general dentistry practice (for kids and adults) in Valencia also offers cosmetic, implant reconstruction and periodontics.
"The straighter the teeth the easier it is for the child to keep his or her teeth clean," he said.

Abbassian also urges early orthodontic intervention. "The sooner a problem is intercepted the easier it is to correct the malocclusion (improper bite)," he said, adding, "Remember that an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure."

Undoing dental displacements is a valuable branch of modern dentistry, as is cavity prevention, says Abbassian. "People need to realize that the number-one reason in the United States that young students are missing school is not due to flu or other medical problems - it's toothaches," he said.

Toothaches
What causes toothaches, you ask? It all begins with our mouth's very own bacteria.

Microbes that typically reside in the mouth are the culprits of cavities and gum disease. Under normal conditions this bacteria does a good job at keeping our mouth clean. But under specific conditions they grow exponentially, and then their protective nature fails. These situations include: certain medical problems, genetic predisposition, poor oral hygiene, lack of regular dental care, heavy consumption of sugars and acidic drinks, and prolonged bottle and sippy cup feeding.

Dental problems aren't the only havoc the excess oral bugs cause, however. When bacteria enters the blood stream (through the gums) it can settle on arterial walls and lead to blockages, elevated blood pressure, heart disease and other problems. The longer patients go without decay, the better for their head-to-toe health - and the longevity of their teeth, Abbassian said.
"As soon as a tooth is decayed it will become a liability, even after it is restored because restorations don't last forever," he said, adding, "When they need to be replaced, more of the tooth structure will be lost in the process."

Abbassian points out that enamel-protecting sealants are frequently used in pediatric dental settings. Applied as soon as the six-year molars have erupted, dental sealants cover grooves on the molar teeth, thus preventing penetration of the decay-causing bacteria in these grooves.

Diet Matters
The old adage, "Everything in moderation" is true. Yet for many kids, their mega-consumption of high sugar and carbohydrate foods and beverages (think soda, chips, cookies, candy, and sweet, sticky "energy" bars) is having disastrous outcomes.

Dr. Dell Ariel Goodrick warns that this "popular" intake can lead to premature loss of tooth enamel, cavities, and weakening of tooth structure. It can also promote obesity, seen all too often today in our youth.
Goodrick, whose "Unique Dental Experience" Newhall office specializes in cosmetic dentistry, general dentistry and periodontal therapy, says kids need solid nutrition for proper growth, energy and healthy teeth.

To best achieve this goal Goodrick recommends parents and kids understand the connection between food choices and the effects they have on teeth and health. He also impresses the need for regular
dental checkups and good brushing and flossing.

"As more information comes out about the health of the mouth being linked to the health of the body, dentists have a great opportunity to direct these youngsters and to help them with healthy decisions that aren't limited to their mouths," the dentist said. "This is especially true since a child will see a dentist, on average, twice a year and a physician only once."

Goodrick shares some dismal statistics he wants readers to know:

Kids as young as 2 are becoming addicted to caffeine and sugar.

Phosphoric, citric, tartaric and carbonic acids in soda can break down tooth enamel around dental sealants and restorations, further damaging kids' teeth and leading to more extensive dental treatment to prevent total tooth loss.

The phosphoric acid in most regular and diet cola limits calcium absorption and has a direct influence on bone density. Further, a strong link exists between significant soda pop consumption, osteoporosis and bone fractures in teenage girls.

Ounce of Prevention, Pound of Cure
Dr. Derick Garibian of Smile Focus in Stevenson Ranch says preventive dental care gives people a greater chance for retaining their teeth for the long run. "We believe that people should keep their own healthy teeth for their entire lifetime, and we're convinced that disease prevention is far more enjoyable, less costly and more comfortable than disease treatment for all concerned," said Garibian, who practices general dentistry as well as cosmetic dental reconstructions and orthodontic treatments.

With his professional goal of "prevention through education," Garibian described modern dentistry's mission:

To maintain the ability to chew and promote the enjoyment of taste.

To preserve correct speech by maintaining the position of the teeth.

To overcome all obstacles to successful dental treatment.

To preserve youth, appearance and comfort through the preservation of the teeth and gums.

To preserve general health by controlling disease of the teeth, gums, and jaws.

Kids and Cosmetic Smiles
So very popular today, teeth whitening and veneers do wonders for creating dazzling smiles. But at what age, and under what conditions, can young people begin receiving those procedures? Garibian said he believes in practicing safe dentistry
and prefers delaying any kind of bleaching until late high school years. "Although," he stated, "some exceptions can apply where there are very stained teeth due to genetics or medication side effects."

Likewise, veneers should not be applied until the child is older, as they weaken teeth. "The process takes enamel away and then puts veneer which is more fragile over that. Once you have applied veneers you may need to replace them every 10 to 15 years because of gum recession or wear and tear," he said, adding, "Again keep in mind, exceptions always can apply to severely stained, or genetically malformed teeth, or accidents."

Strong, healthy, attractive teeth - ideally, that precious asset begins in childhood.

With the support of caring parents, and a skilled, compassionate dentist, kids can get that optimal dental beginning - then continue on with conscientious self-care and a smile that lasts a lifetime.


For more Information
• Dr. Mehran Abbassian 259-9100
• Dr. Gina Dorfman of Dentistry for Kids and Adults 513-9393 (Valencia) 299-2525 (Canyon Country)
• Dr. Bobby Irani of Valencia Dental Arts 799-9989
• Dr. Derick Garibian of Smile Focus 287-1523
• Dr. Dell Goodrick of A Unique Dental Experience 254-40