Your Questions

• What is a pediatric dentist?
• When should my child see a dentist for the first time?
• What will happen at my child’s first dental visit?
• Why should decayed baby teeth be fixed?
• Why does my child need X-rays?
• How should I care for my child’s teeth?
• Does my child’s diet affect their teeth?
• What are sealants?
• What is Baby Bottle Decay?
• When will my baby start getting teeth?
• My child has a dental emergency. What should I do?
• How safe is fluoride?

Why should decayed baby teeth be fixed?

It is very important to maintain the health of primary teeth and to keep them in place until they are lost naturally.  Neglected decay can and very frequently leads to problems which can affect developing permanent teeth. Primary teeth serve a number of critical functions:

1. They maintain good nutrition by permitting children to chew properly,
2. They provide space for the permanent teeth and guide them into the correct position, and
3. They permit normal development of the jaw bones and muscles.

Primary teeth also affect the development of speech and add to an attractive appearance which helps children feel good about the way they look to others. While the front four teeth last until six to eight years of age, the back teeth are not replaced until age ten to thirteen.