Why We Love Seeing Children
From the Start
Dr Larissa Figari-Goller, DDS, MAGD, FICOI
One of the things we feel very strongly about as a dentist is seeing children early—not simply to check for cavities, but to understand how they are growing and what could be in store for them as they grow up.
Some people think we only understand adults as general dentists, however I like to say that we do understand all aspects of what a child can look like as an adult.
At Huntington Bay Dental, we have always believed in looking at the whole person. When we see a child from a young age, we have the opportunity to watch much more than their teeth. We can follow how their jaws are developing, how they breathe, how their permanent teeth are coming in, whether they have enough space, and whether there are things we can address early that may lead to a better outcome later.
Sometimes that means simply watching. Other times, it means helping a family understand something early enough that they have choices.
One of my least favorite things to have to tell a parent is, “We need to put your child back in orthodontics.” That often can be the case if we see a child too late and don’t have a long term plan.
Sometimes a child has already completed orthodontic treatment, but their growth wasn't finished, or there wasn't a long-term plan for how to manage space from congenitally missing teeth, peg laterals or small teeth or other developmental concerns. As more permanent teeth erupt and the child continues to grow, the picture can change.
That is why I believe so strongly in having a dental home from the start. Our goal isn't to rush children into treatment. In fact, it's often the opposite. We want to watch, guide, plan and intervene thoughtfully when the timing is right.
When we've had the privilege of knowing a child for years, we can see the story unfolding, not just what their teeth look like at one particular appointment. And whenever possible, we'd much rather help guide that story from the beginning than try to change the ending.
