Family Dentistry in Las Vegas and Spring Valley, NV

There is no exact recommendation that fits every scenario. The general recommendation is that children and adults of all ages see their dentist every six months. This schedule tends to work well to avoid extensive tooth decay and gum disease. That said, Dr. Paez may advise you to return sooner than six months if you've got a dental or periodontal issue that needs to be monitored or treated more frequently. During your routine exams, our dental team will work carefully to evaluate your short-term and long-term dental needs. If you need more frequent care to address an issue, we will discuss what that issue is, what needs to be done to manage it, and why that may require you to come in more often than every six months. 

Your child's teeth need to be well cared for from the get-go! To prevent dental caries in infants and young children, it is ideal to bring a child to the dentist after they get their first tooth. Early childhood dental visits are not complicated. They can accomplish two significant goals. One is to educate the parent regarding proper oral care for their child. The other is to get the child used to seeing the dentist before restorative care is needed. The hope is that, with adequate education, guidance, and follow-up, children can avoid the unnecessary pain and stress of cavities. 

Primary teeth, known as "baby teeth," fall out. So, why do you need to bring your child to the dentist at such an early age? This is a great question and we appreciate parents asking rather than simply foregoing dental visits.  There are a few reasons that children should see the dentist even though these early teeth will fall out. One is that it's beneficial for children to get used to seeing the dentist before a problem arises. Otherwise, their first dental experience can be unnecessarily frightening. Bad experiences at the dentist don't have to be severe to be significant. A child who sees the dentist only when they've developed a painful problem can develop dental anxiety that lasts well into adulthood. Regular visits starting early in life can prevent that. The primary teeth are also important structures. They help a child learn to talk. They are necessary for chewing. And also they hold space in the mouth as it develops so that there is sufficient space for permanent teeth to grow in. If baby teeth are damaged, need to be extracted, or fall out too soon, permanent teeth may grow in crooked. 

Dental anxiety is a common experience for far too many people. If you or someone you love is afraid to see the dentist, there is a higher likelihood that dental visits will be avoided. We are committed to helping our patients overcome their fears related to dental care! There are several ways to achieve this. The most important one is to set the tone for each visit. The more trust you have that your dental team understands your fears and will work slowly and with intention during your visits, the calmer you can feel. Everything else is just a tactic, but tactics can also be beneficial! Some suggestions that may help you include wearing earphones during your dental visits to listen to any music that you find entertaining or soothing, bringing a heavy blanket to place on your lap, and avoiding caffeine before your appointments. 

We want you to feel comfortable and in control of your dental visits with us. When you make your appointment, please let our staff know how you feel about seeing the dentist. They may have additional suggestions to help you prepare and can also note your chart so the staff knows to approach your x-rays, exams, cleanings, and procedures with extra TLC.

Dental x-rays are an important aspect of every exam. They show Dr. Paez areas of your mouth that can't be seen with the naked eye. Over the years, advances in technology have improved the dental x-ray process. Our office is equipped with digital x-ray imaging. This is both safe and effective for patients and our office. Radiation exposure from digital x-rays is very low. Additionally, a protective "vest" keeps radiation exposure away from the body. We rely on x-ray images to see what the eye cannot but we also minimize the number of and frequency of this type of exam to the bare minimum.