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Pediatric Dentistry FAQ

Home » Patient Resources » Pediatric Dentistry FAQ

What is a pediatric dentist?

Pediatric dentists are dentists who specialize in caring for young children and are dedicated to providing the highest quality care and guidance to help children grow up cavity-free with beautiful smiles. We are sort of like pediatricians for teeth! Our job certainly involves treating cavities but we also focus on prevention while monitoring their growing smiles. Our offices are tailored for children only. We also have special training in treating children with special medical or behavioral conditions.

For more information, please visit the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry website at aapd.org.

At what age should a child see a dentist?

The AAPD recommends a dental visit by age one. The earlier preventive measures are implemented, the more likely a child will remain cavity-free during their lifetime. With proper fluoride exposure, a good brushing, a balanced healthy diet, and regular check-ups—children have a great start for a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums If you want more information on taking care of your infant’s teeth please come by for a consultation or check out the FAQ page on the AAPD website.

What can I do to help my child have healthy teeth?

  • Early and regular check-ups
  • Proper brushing (2-3 times a day) and flossing (once a day)
  • Set a routine with a healthy diet and limit the frequency of sugary snacks
  • Proper fluoride exposure through water, toothpaste, and supplements
  • Have sealants applied when recommended

Why are baby teeth important?

Many people wonder why baby teeth are important since they’ll eventually be replaced by permanent teeth. Primary or “baby” teeth are important for many reasons. Not only do they help children speak clearly, and chew naturally, but they also aid in forming a path the permanent teeth can follow when they erupt. Children keep some of their back baby teeth up to age 12 and 13, and a few keep them until age 14!

Untreated tooth decay can lead to pain, fever, abscess, infection, premature tooth loss, and damage to permanent teeth. If baby teeth are extracted prematurely significant crowding and space loss for the permanent teeth can occur. Additionally, facial appearance can be affected by early tooth loss. Whether your child has 1 tooth or 20, we are here to help!

What causes tooth decay?

Four things are necessary for cavities to form: a tooth, bacteria, sugars (or other carbohydrates), and time. Dental plaque is a thin, sticky, colorless deposit of bacteria that constantly forms on everyone’s teeth. When you eat, the sugars in your food cause the bacteria in plaque to produce acids that attack the tooth enamel. With time and repeated acid attacks, the enamel breaks down and a cavity develops. Simply stated, the more times per day sugar hits your child’s teeth, the higher chance for tooth decay!

Do you allow parents back with their children?

We invite you to accompany your child during the initial visit. This is a great way for you to see our office and team in action. We want to build trust with your child through age-appropriate terminology, friendliness, compassion, and consistency. Depending on the child’s age and needs, sometimes we ask the child to come back by themselves. Similar to school settings, most children do better when our team has their attention. We ask for your cooperation with this philosophy. We realize there are exceptions and we will work with those individuals. We want you to be comfortable with our recommendations, and we will clarify any questions regarding your child’s care.

Do you accept insurance?

Yes. We file for all insurance benefits even if we are not an in-network provider. After verification of benefits, we will file your insurance claims and ask you to pay any fees not covered by your insurance. For more information please visit our insurance page.

What are dental sealants?

These coatings fill up the grooves of our back teeth which are the easiest places to get decay. They are usually easy to apply and do not require numbing of the teeth. With regular maintenance, these coatings seal out cavities in our back teeth.

If you have questions about fillings, crowns, root canals, extractions, or other treatments please visit our services page.

What if my child’s permanent tooth is coming in and the baby tooth is not out yet?

One of the most common concerns we see involves a ‘double’ row of teeth. This is a common occurrence in children that sometimes warrants attention. Usually, if we give the teeth a bit of time (maybe even 8-10 weeks), and encourage the child to wiggle them, the baby tooth falls out and the new permanent tooth erupts just fine. Sometimes, we do have to pull the baby teeth. However, usually, the permanent tooth erupts into a good position once the baby tooth is gone.

Dental Emergencies

Toothache: Try to clean the area gently but thoroughly. Remove any impacted food with floss or a toothpick or toothbrush. If pain persists, please call our office for further guidance.

Dislodged Permanent Tooth: If a permanent tooth is knocked out, please try to find it, and handle it by the crown (not the long root portion) – if the tooth is clean and you can reinsert it in your child’s mouth, please do so immediately; then have your child bite on a washcloth or small piece of gauze to hold the tooth in place. If you are unsure, place the tooth in a glass of milk and call our office immediately for further guidance. If for some reason you cannot reach us, take your child to the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital Emergency Room immediately.

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Get Started Today!

Simply request a kids dentistry appointment or free orthodontic consultation to get started today. We look forward to meeting you and your family soon!

kids dentistry appt
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Sherri Elizabeth T.
Wonderful and fun place! Super sweet staff who are great with kids. Thank you!
Leethal K.
We were referred here and I couldn't be happier that we didnt go somewhere else. My husband and our child sang praises, "they were amazing, you can really tell they work with children."

I was especially happy that our kiddo had an amazing experience, definitely the place for a child whos anxious about the dentist.
Kelsey S.
My child and I had a wonderful first time experience here today! The staff was very friendly and understanding. I enjoyed all the fun things they did to make her experience enjoyable. She usually has bad anxiety about going to the dentist and I believe today has calmed her nerves and she will enjoy going to the dentist now. Compared to our usual dentist office it is a breath of fresh air. I have 3 children and will be bringing them here from now on. So pleased with the environment they have created here.
Kimberly D.
We had such a wonderful experience at Foothills Pediatric Dentistry in Seymour! The staff, especially Cheyenne was incredibly sweet to my son and went above and beyond to make him feel comfortable. What could have been a stressful visit turned into a calm and positive one thanks to their kindness and patience. They truly know how to put children (and parents!) at ease. On top of that, their pricing is very reasonable and such a great value for the care they provide. We are so thankful to have found them and will definitely continue to come back!
Rebekah L.
Dr Travis and his staff are amazing! Highly recommend their office
Tonia B.
if you are needing orthodontic service, go visit this fun, friendly, professional office, the staff is awesome, Dr. Evan makes it so easy to understand ortho procedures. go check them out and see for yourself, i am fortunate to have this team working on my teeth.
Jennifer D (Jen D.
Amazing as always! We love the staff and providers at Foothills Pediatric Dentistry! But most importantly, my little one does as well. They always speak very gently, softly and explain (to her) about what they are about to do, while also being very thorough and still make it a fun experience!
Sydney C.
They did a great job making sure my daughter was comfortable during her procedure.
Brianna K.
The best experience my child has ever had at a dentist office. This was our third office we tried for my son because the others were just so terrible and traumatizing for him. This visit today was like a breath of fresh air! The staff and doctors here are amazing! So patient and kind. My son can't wait to go back!
Katie R.
You will not find a better pediatric dental office in the area. The staff is the sweetest most caring staff to children. We absolutely adore Stephanie and all of the dental hygienists in this office. I've been bringing my children for about 5 years and they always love going. You can tell that the dentist who runs this practice is an excellent boss to work for because all of his staff are always happy and kind. They are thorough, gentle and patient. This is the only place I'd recommend. I wish they took adult patients too. I'd definitely come for my teeth cleanings.
Alyssa H.
Today was our first time at Foothills and everyone was so sweet and welcoming! We’re very thankful to have found a new dentist for our kiddo with such amazing, caring, and compassionate staff!
Sarah T.
Went for our first visit with my 3 year old today it was great. Everyone was great with kids. Toys in the waiting room and the exam rooms to keep them entertained and excited. TV on the ceiling so they have something to hold their attention while doing the cleaning. Overall great experience.
Elisabeth R.
The clinical assistant, Darla, was very kind and explained the process for our first visit very well. Dr. Clint was amazing with my two year old and was very pleasant to speak with as well. Overall, we had a great first experience with this office and will be happy to return in the future. I would highly recommend taking your kiddo(s) to Foothills Pediatric Dentistry!
Barry C.
My daughter begs to go to the dentist! They are the sweetest people, make your kids so comfortable and make it fun. Wish I could give more than 5 stars!
Karrah T.
Dr Travis is wonderful with children, very transparent and clean office space

patient testimonials

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Come by one of our four convenient locations so we can serve you and your family’s needs. We have two locations that offer both pediatric dentistry and orthodontics and two locations that offer orthodontics only.
MARYVILLE
(Dental & Ortho)
  • 121 Parliament Dr.
    Maryville, TN 37804
  • (865) 977-8700
SEYMOUR
(Dental & Ortho)
  • 129 Peacock Ct.
    Seymour, TN 37865
  • (865) 773-0591
SEVIERVILLE
(Ortho Only)
  • 485 Forks of the River Pkwy.
    Sevierville, TN 37862
  • (865) 453-6959

Sevierville

Seymour

Maryville

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