Frequently asked questions
What makes a dentist an expert?
While all dentists in Israel go through 6 years of dental school and get a D.M.D., specialists go through an additional program that usually lasts 3.5 years. Approximately 10% of all Israeli dentists are board-certified specialists in the different fields of dentistry, having earned a specialist’s license from the Health Ministry.
At what age should we start bringing our child to the dentist?
The professional literature advises bringing your child to the dentist at the eruption of the first tooth, or at the age of 1 year. The primary goal at this age is to teach the parents the do’s and don’ts of dental care for their young child, since prevention is the key to healthier teeth. Starting at a young age will get the child into a healthy routine.
In rare cases, even at this young age, there may be clinical findings that can be detected and treated, or even prevented.
How often do we need to visit our dentist?
That depends on one’s dental history and the level of risk for dental caries. The standard is 1-2 times a year.
Why go for a routine checkup? When it hurts, then I know I need to go…
Routine visits from a young age get the child used to the dental environment, and teach him that the visits are not at all painful. Your child will hopefully build a trusting relationship with his dentist so that when treatment is needed, it’s much easier and more pleasant for him. During routine checkups we can diagnose problems at an early stage, resulting in simpler and quicker treatment. The longer you wait- the more chance there is for pain, infection, a more complicated solution, and a more fearful child.
Why treat baby teeth at all? They’re going to fall out anyway…
There are situations in which we choose not to treat because the tooth is on its way to exfoliate. But more times than not, leaving a baby tooth untreated may result in discomfort, pain , infection and in extreme cases – damage to the underlying permanent tooth.
At what age should we start orthodontic treatment?
There are children who need orthodontic intervention at the age of 6-7. Most of the time we’d recommend waiting until all of the permanent teeth have erupted before undergoing full orthodontic treatment, which includes braces. Some fairly simple interventions [like using a retainer] at an earlier age can sometimes prevent more complex problems.
What is sedation?
Sedation is using nitrous oxide with or without medication in order to bring an anxious/uncooperative/hyper-patient to a state of calm. This makes the treatment a positive experience for the child and allows the dentist to perform quality dentistry.
There are medications that usually cause amnesia so that the young patient doesn’t even remember that he underwent treatment.