What age should you have your first conversation about orthodontics with your child's dentist?
The American Association of Orthodontics recommendation is to see a specialist at age 7 to rule out any issues that need to be addressed. If no treatment is necessary at that time the patient will likely come back in a few years for re-evaluation
Are sealants still being used a lot today? My kids had them 15 yrs ago!
Yes, sealants are still a great way to prevent decay in adult and primary molars. The sealants your child had 15 years ago do not need to be re-sealed. The likelihood of those teeth getting decay is less likely today than it was when they first erupted.
The autobrush toothbrush keeps popping up on FB is it worth it? https://www.autobrush.com/a/amp/products/autobrush...
Manual or electric for a 6 year old and 2 year old?
Electric toothbrushes are a great for helping kids, and adults as well, to do a better job of brushing. We recommend either the Oral B or Sonicare electric brush systems.
Do kids need fluoride treatments if the water they drink is fluoridated?
Very few municipalities in New Jersey have fluoridated water and most towns around here do not have fluoridated water. You should check with your town to see if your water is fluoridated. If you live in one of these few towns that does provide fluoridated water it is not necessary to ingest additional fluoride. If you live in a community without fluoride and have any questions regarding fluoride feel free to give us a call at Pediatric Dental Associates of Randolph with any questions 973-989-7970.
How do you handle kids who are scared? Specifically during cleanings
We follow a method called “tell” “show” and “do” where we first tell kids what to expect, what we will be doing during the exam, then we show the child by demonstrating what we will be doing including showing them the tools. Once the child is comfortable we will then begin the examination or procedure. We recognize that every child is unique and we have the training and experience to care for and treat children of all abilities.
What age should kids begin visiting the dentist?
A child should first be seen by a dentist between the age of 1-2 years of age. At Pediatric Dental Associates of Randolph we feel it is so important to start early that we do free exams for all children under 2 years of age. During that appointment we exam your child’s teeth and can answer any of your questions you might have about diet, fluoride, and sealants and brushing.
What’s your suggestion for filling vs waiting and watching a cavity that is in a baby tooth?
Deciding whether to fill a baby tooth depends on many factors including the age of the child and whether the baby tooth will be falling out shortly. It is important to treat tooth decay on teeth that are staying for a while because left untreated it can cause pain.
About Dr. Manella:
Dr. Aaron Mannella founded Pediatric Dental Associates of Randolph in 1991. He is Board Certified in Pediatric Dentistry and a Diplomat of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Mannella is highly respected in his field. He is the chair of Pediatric Dentistry at Morristown Hospital where he donates his resources performing dental restorations on patients who could not otherwise afford treatment. Dr. Mannella has been named a top dentist in New Jersey Monthly Magazine and NJ Family magazine since the lists’ inception. He maintains membership in many prestigious organizations including the American Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Society of Dentistry for Children and Tri-County Dental Association.
In his free time Dr. Mannella enjoys teaching snowboarding, golfing and spending time with his wife Dr. Susan Arnold. They have 3 adult children.
To schedule an appointment or for any additional questions, contact:
