Your first visit is the first step towards a great smile.

When it is time for your child’s first visit, the entire team at Jacaranda Smiles will bend over backward to make it a comfortable, fun, and happy experience. Our dental and orthodontic offices in Plantation and Pembroke Pines, Florida, are designed to make families feel relaxed. We are proud to provide a welcoming atmosphere for all of our patients.

The Goal of Your Child’s First Visit

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentists recommends that all children see a dentist when their first tooth comes in or by their first birthday. During this first meeting, our team will discuss your child’s mouth and will recommend tips to help you maintain good oral hygiene for your little one. A gentle exam with x-rays will be performed, and all erupted teeth will be cleaned. At this first exam, we really just want to get your child comfortable seeing the dentist, so we try to make the experience as positive as possible.

Topics we’ll cover:

• The correct use of fluoride
• Proper brushing and flossing techniques
• Thumb sucking and other oral habits
• Developmental milestones (e.g., teething)
• Balanced nutrition and oral health
• Your child’s risk of tooth decay and cavities
• Healthy soft tissues (gums and cheeks)
• How to prevent dental traumas and mouth injuries
• Follow-up appointments will be discussed – typically every 6 months

Emergencies happen. We’re here.

Nothing is worse than seeing your child in pain. But, sometimes pediatric dental emergencies happen, and parents need to act quickly. Here is a list of common mouth injuries and the necessary steps to manage the problem until you can see us.

Tooth Pain

It is common for kids to experience toothaches at some point in development. If the tooth pain persists, don’t wait to contact Jacaranda Smiles to schedule an appointment. Your child’s toothache may be the result of decay, dental trauma, tooth fracture, or in adolescents, wisdom teeth coming in, or being impacted.

How to help at home:

• Clean the affected area with warm water
• Check for food debris lodged in the tooth or soft tissues
• Reduce swelling with a cold compress
• Contact your Plantation or Pembroke Pines, Florida dentist for advice

Dental Avulsion

If your child completely knocks out a tooth, call Jacaranda Smiles immediately. Time is of the essence if you want to save your child’s tooth. Dentists usually do not try to replace an avulsed baby tooth. Doing so can potentially cause damage to the bud and the underlying adult tooth.

A permanent tooth may be replanted if the trauma has not caused irreparable damage. For successful implantation, the procedure must be performed within an hour of the dental avulsion.

How you can help at home:

• Find the knocked-out tooth and only handle the crown – never touch the root
• Rinse with water but do not scrub the tooth
• Insert the avulsed tooth back in the socket or have the child place it in the cheek pouch
• For younger kids, store the tooth in milk – it is crucial to keep the tooth moist.
• Bring your child to any Jacaranda Smiles location or bring your child to the ER immediately

Dental Intrusion

Some dental traumas force one or more teeth up into the jawbone. This can damage the ligament and fracture of the tooth socket. Plantation or Pembroke Pines dental office immediately if you suspect a dental intrusion. Please know that the problem may correct itself naturally, or endodontic treatment may be needed to preserve the tooth. You won’t know though until you see us.

How you can help at home:

• Have the child rinse with cold water
• Reduce swelling with ice packs
• Administer Tylenol for pain
• Bring your child to any Jacaranda Smiles location or bring your child to the ER immediately

Broken Tooth

In most cases of broken teeth, it is the crown that gets damaged. First, the extent of the fracture needs to be assessed using digital x-rays. If you notice any color change in the tooth, consider this a dental emergency. Minor fractures can be repaired with tooth sealant, but more severe breaks sometimes require a root canal.

How to help at home:

• Rinse the child’s mouth with warm water
• Place a moist cold compress on the affected area
• Administer Tylenol for pain
• Pack the damaged tooth with wet cotton or a moist paper towel
• Bring your child to any Jacaranda Smiles location or bring your child to the ER immediately

Concussed Tooth Injury

If your child experiences a dental trauma that leaves a tooth banged up, but not dislodged or broken this is called a tooth concussion. This is a common occurrence in toddlers causing the tooth to be temporarily or permanently discolored. A dental concussion is typically not a pediatric dental emergency unless the affected tooth darkens or turns black.