{"id":165,"date":"2013-01-31T07:54:33","date_gmt":"2013-01-31T07:54:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.leslatnerdds.com\/?p=165"},"modified":"2026-09-07T19:50:37","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T19:50:37","slug":"pediatric-dentistry-and-your-child","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.leslatnerdds.com\/blog\/pediatric-dentistry-and-your-child\/","title":{"rendered":"Pediatric Dentistry and Your Child"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.leslatnerdds.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/group-kids-small-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Four smiling children lean toward the camera outdoors on a sunny day. Their cheerful expressions and visible smiles highlight the importance of healthy teeth during childhood.\" class=\"wp-image-166\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.5;width:300px;height:auto\" title=\"pediatric dentistry\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.leslatnerdds.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/group-kids-small-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.leslatnerdds.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/group-kids-small-1024x682.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We understand the importance of dental care for adults, but it\u2019s equally important to care for the health of your child\u2019s teeth as well. Pediatric dentistry is an important dental specialty recognized by the ADA. Dentists in this field are skilled and experienced in caring for children\u2019s dental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When Should My Child First See a Dentist?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your child should first see a dentist when they are 1 year old. This may seem rather young, but cavities can occur at any age, and it\u2019s important to start a health routine early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When taking your child to the dentist, make sure you\u2019re taking them to a pediatric dentist. They\u2019re prepared and experienced at handling young children and their needs. They also know how to work with a small patient who may not always stay still. If you don\u2019t know who you should take your little one to see, your general dentist may be able to provide a referral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Will Happen During My Child&#8217;s Visit?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The pediatric dentist will examine your child\u2019s teeth and go over health concerns and proper brushing techniques with you. The sooner you start taking your child to the dentist the better. You don\u2019t want your child\u2019s first dental appointment to end with them having to get a mouth full of fillings, as this could cause them to become fearful of the dentist. Their first dental memory needs to be a pleasant one, to instill in them that going to the dentist is important for the health of their teeth and gums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A pediatric dentist can also give you advice about teething, thumb sucking, and information on how your child\u2019s teeth will grow and develop. A pediatric dentist is an important resource.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Schedule Your Child&#8217;s First Dental Appointment Today<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don\u2019t forget, once your child is a year old, it\u2019s time for their first dental appointment. Pediatric dentistry plays an important role in the dental health care system and in our own personal dental health. Dr. Les Latner is a trained pediatric dentist, having completed his residency at Children\u2019s Hospital in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We understand the importance of dental care for adults, but it\u2019s equally important to care for the health of your child\u2019s teeth as well. Pediatric dentistry is an important dental specialty recognized by the ADA. Dentists in this field are skilled and experienced in caring for children\u2019s dental health. When Should My Child First See [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[44,27,25,30,18],"class_list":["post-165","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pediatric-dentistry","tag-dr-les-latner","tag-general-dentistry","tag-los-angeles","tag-pediatric-dentistry-2","tag-westside-dental-associates"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Pediatric Dentistry and Your Child - Westside Dental Associates<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Good oral health starts early. Learn how pediatric dental care helps children develop healthy habits and maintain growing smiles.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leslatnerdds.com\/blog\/pediatric-dentistry-and-your-child\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Pediatric Dentistry and Your Child - Westside Dental Associates\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Good oral health starts early. 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