Are you an existing patient at Twickenham Family Dentistry looking for a children’s dentist for your little ones? Or, maybe you’re new to the Huntsville area, and you need to find a dental office to take care of your whole family.
Our family dental practice is happy to provide comprehensive oral care to patients of all ages—including young children! We believe that “family dentistry” should include every member of your household, no matter how little the smiles.
Twickenham Family Dentistry offers comprehensive pediatric dentistry in Huntsville, AL. If you need to schedule a dental appointment for your child or children, give us a call at (256) 539-4079, and we will schedule a time for your family to meet with Dr. Cook.
We recommend bringing your son or daughter into our dental office for their first checkup around their first tooth eruption. Typically, the first baby tooth erupts around six months of age. It’s acceptable to wait a little longer to bring your child in, but we should examine your child’s smile by their first birthday.
Bringing your child in for their first dental visit early in life helps them become familiar with a dental setting early on. Early treatment also reduces the chances that their first visit will be because of something uncomfortable, such as a cavity or tooth pain.
During your child’s first dental visit—and the subsequent visits that follow—we’ll take the time to get to know your child and make them feel comfortable in the dental chair. Exam rooms are filled with all sorts of new sights, smells, and sounds, so it’s helpful for your child to ease into the dental experience slowly and throughout multiple visits.
Dr. Cook will continue to monitor any baby teeth and provide tips on how you, as the parent, can help your child keep their teeth healthy as their smile develops. You will play a vital role in your child’s oral health during their formative years, so we want you to be involved in their care.
Dr. Brian K. Cook was born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama. In 2005, he received his undergraduate degree in biology from the University of South Alabama with magna cum laude honors, before going on to ...
Dr. Kestner is a native of Huntsville, Alabama and a graduate of Randolph School. Her undergraduate education was completed at Auburn University, where she graduated magna cum laude with a major in Biomedical ...
If you want the expertise of a pediatric dentist but the convenience of a family dentist who provides your treatment under one roof, look no further than Dr. Brain Cook. Dr. Cook is great with children and loves providing exceptional dental care to entire families in our community.
At Twickenham Family Dentistry, we provide access to pediatric dentistry in New Market, Lacey’s Spring, Hazel Green, and surrounding areas. We offer all the essential children’s dentistry services and can always refer your family to a trusted specialist if your child has a unique dental condition.
Once your child has at least one tooth, they should see their dentist every six months, just like any other patient.
We recommend scheduling routine dental checkups for your child on the same day as your dental exams to make things as convenient as possible for your family.
At each of your child’s pediatric dental appointments, we’ll provide essential services such as:
Even though your child’s baby teeth aren’t permanent, we still need to monitor their development closely.
Dr. Cook thoroughly assesses your child’s smile for signs of cavities, trauma, infection, or eruption complications that could impact adult teeth later. We recommend a visit at least every six months to detect problems as early as possible.
Our dental hygienists gently clean your child’s teeth and provide essential oral hygiene education tips to encourage healthy smiles for life. These teeth cleanings are especially important for young children who are still learning how to brush and floss using proper techniques.
Prescription-strength fluoride makes tooth enamel more durable and more resistant to cavities, protecting both baby and adult teeth. We will supervise fluoride rinses for your children when they visit our dental office for their six-month appointments
Sealants are an essential aspect of children’s dentistry in Huntsville.
Protective sealants help repel acids and bacteria in the hard-to-reach grooves of your child’s back teeth. They can help your son or daughter avoid the risk of childhood cavities by making it easier to clean their molars.
Dr. Cook usually recommends placing sealants on the first and second sets of molars, which typically erupt around the ages of 6 and 12, give or take a couple of years.
Dental x-rays let us inspect the eruption patterns of your child’s teeth. Obtaining x-rays is an essential step in avoiding orthodontic complications later on, as well as in catching tooth decay that isn’t visible during a clinical exam.
To learn more about the many dental services your child can receive from a children’s dentist, please contact Twickenham Family Dentistry today by calling (256) 539-4079.
As a parent, you’ll do whatever you can to keep your child safe and healthy. But with busy schedules and conflicting advice from friends and family, you may be wondering how often you should make the time to take them to the dentist.
We encourage you to start strong dental habits early so your child can maintain healthy teeth and gums for a lifetime.
Here are the guidelines we encourage parents to follow:
There are numerous benefits of regular dental visits, including:
If you’d like to schedule an appointment with one of our family dentists, we will happily assist you! At Twickenham Family Dentistry, our goal is to help your entire family achieve the best oral health possible.
You can reach us by calling (256) 539-4079.
We recommend bringing your child to the dentist when you notice their first tooth. This is typically around the six-month mark. But, of course, you can bring your child before then if you have specific concerns or questions for your child’s dentist in Huntsville, AL.
First, we want to familiarize your child with the dental clinic atmosphere from an early age. This helps them feel more comfortable and at ease during treatment. We also like to make sure teeth are coming in as they should and that their jaw is developing correctly to accommodate their teeth.
The first few appointments involve checking the teeth, gums, and jaw health. We also provide your child a ride in the dental chair and spend time getting to know them. This is also a great opportunity to ask questions or talk to a team member about any concerns. Additionally, we can provide at-home dental care tips and nutrition counseling if needed.
We are always happy to welcome your youngest family members and look forward to meeting your child. So reach out today to get started.
Did you know that oral care for babies starts even before the first tooth arrives? It's true! Your Huntsville children's dentist recommends that parents wipe their baby's gums down with a warm washcloth after feedings to remove excess plaque and bacteria.
Brushing should start as soon as the first tooth arrives. Use a small toothbrush with soft bristles designed for infants. You can also use toothpaste that is safe to swallow.
As your little one grows, they can start to brush on their own with your assistance and supervision. Around the age of three or four years old, you can include fluoride toothpaste in their brushing routine when they are able to spit.
Kids will need assistance brushing their teeth until they're about seven or eight years old. Even after they take over, it's good for parents to check on brushing technique and still supervise once in a while to make sure kids are successfully removing plaque from their teeth.
You can make oral home care fun for your son or daughter by including them in decisions about their toothbrush or toothpaste. Your children's dentist in Huntsville is also here to help if you have questions about your little one's dental care or you need more tips for their home care routine.
Parental involvement in their children's dental health is important to help them learn good habits early on. One of the best ways you can help your son or daughter have a healthy smile is to establish a good home care routine as early as possible. You can start brushing their teeth as soon as they arrive.
As your child grows, lead by example. Let them see you brushing and flossing your own teeth, and be sure to share proper techniques with them as they get older and take over their own home care routine.
Consistent visits with your Huntsville children's dentist every six months are critical for excellent oral health. These visits should start around age one when the first teeth begin to arrive.
Your kid's dentist will oversee their oral development and may recommend some additional services to help protect their teeth like dental sealants or fluoride treatments. If your son or daughter participates in sports, your dentist can recommend the best sports guard to protect their teeth and mouth from injury.
Let us help you protect your little one's smile and dental health. Call your children's dentist in Huntsville, AL at Twickenham Family Dentistry to schedule your child's next appointment. You can reach us at (256) 539-4079.
You may initially think that your child needs to visit a pediatric dentist when they’re young. Although there’s nothing wrong with seeing a pediatric dentist, the downside is that your child can only remain a patient there for so long.
Eventually, your child will outgrow their dentist and won’t be able to visit that dental office anymore—leaving you to start your search for a treatment team all over again.
At Twickenham Family Dentistry, we want to eliminate the unnecessary transition from dentist to dentist and instead offer access to a dental office that can see your child throughout their lifetime. If your child becomes a patient here, we will get to know them starting at a young age and can monitor their oral health over the decades.
Your child’s dentistry changes as he or she grows. Early exams give way to professional teeth cleanings, and your child’s dental needs will typically become more complex as they age. Dr. Cook and our clinical team love treating children, and we introduce new therapies as needed, and as we build a trusting relationship with your child.
At Twickenham Family Dentistry, we understand that it’s important to create bonds and friendships with the children we treat. We always work hard to make sure your child enjoys coming to the dentist and isn’t afraid of visiting us for their routine dental appointments.
Our goal is to treat your child’s dental needs into adulthood, and then eventually treat their children and grandchildren! We believe that dentistry can genuinely be a family affair and a multigenerational endeavor and tradition.
If your child needs pediatric dentistry treatments, don’t wait to have them seen. The sooner your child establishes excellent dental habits, the better off their smile will be.
Our early morning hours make it easy to work in dental visits before your child heads to school. We open at 7:00 a.m. two days each week and have time for after-school appointments as well.
When you’re ready to schedule your family’s next dental visits, please call our Huntsville, AL dental office at (256) 539-4079. We also encourage you to contact us if you have any questions about our services or your child’s overall dental health. We’re here to be a resource for you in any way that we can!
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