The American Dental Association (ADA) has designated February as National Children’s Oral Health Month, dedicated to educating parents and children about the importance of oral health. To help parents and children develop good oral habits, we reached out to Andy Janiga, DMD, who answered some common questions parents and caregivers have about children’s oral health.
Q: Before we get started, can you tell us a little about your background in dentistry?
A: After graduating with honors from the University of Pennsylvania’s Clinical Dentistry Program in 2015, I served in the U.S. Army Dental Corps for five years, gaining valuable clinical experience while helping soldiers, sailors, and airmen.
In 2020, I joined the private practice Center for Dental Excellence in Nashua, New Hampshire, which I later acquired in January 2025. Last year, I was named one of the “Top 10 Dentists to Watch” by the American Association of General Dentistry.
Q: Let’s dig a little deeper into our questions. A recent survey found that most children don’t see a dentist until around age seven, even though the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that children should see a dentist by age one. Why do you think this is?
A: A lot of it is due to lack of information; many parents simply don’t know when their child should first see the dentist. In my office, we address this by communicating with parents during their visit and educating them on the importance of taking their children to the dentist as early as possible.
Q: How can delaying a child’s first dental visit negatively impact their long-term oral health?
A: If a child doesn’t see us until around age seven, we often find that they already have significant caries (childhood caries). By treating children at a young age, we can examine their teeth soon after their teeth emerge and detect dental abnormalities or risk for developing caries.
Early intervention also allows us to communicate with parents and instruct them on proper home care. All of this helps prevent rampant childhood caries later in life. Ideally, parents would bring their children in when they are one year old or when their first tooth appears, whichever comes first.
Q: How can dentists work with local schools to provide oral health education to children?
A: I have a four-year-old and a two-year-old, so I have connections with my children’s schools, but any dentist can contact local schools and provide materials and/or presentations to teach children how to care for their teeth.
My practice and I begin contacting schools before February (Children’s Oral Health Month) to schedule assemblies or classroom visits. We provide a handout that covers the basics of maintaining children’s oral health, including tips to avoid nighttime feedings and sugary drinks.
We also discuss teething management strategies, help parents make their children comfortable, and provide children’s toothbrushes and toothpaste, emphasizing the importance of caring for children’s teeth differently than adult dental care for long-term health. Our goal is to educate students directly, but also to give them something to take home and show their parents.
Q: How can we make the dental office more attractive and less intimidating for children?
A: The dental office can be a little scary for children, so we work hard to create a welcoming atmosphere. We have small chairs designed for children, children’s books, and toys. Our staff is trained to be friendly and gentle during the exam and help patients understand what we do.
We also have a box of toys that kids can choose from after their visit. This gives the kids something to reward them, makes them feel more comfortable, and may even get them excited about coming back.
We also work with an orthodontist who is one of our referral sources. They have a hygiene visit program where we sign a piece of paper every time a child comes in for a cleaning during orthodontic treatment.
The child then brings the cleaned toothpick back to the orthodontist, who gives them a little treat for maintaining good oral health during orthodontic treatment. It’s a cool and motivating way for kids to stick with home care and keep visiting the dentist.
Q: What are the most valuable continuing education courses for dentists who want to improve their pediatric care?
A: I’ve benefited a lot from Spear Education’s continuing education courses, which cover topics such as “Basic Procedures for Pediatric Patients,” “Introduction to Pediatric Restorative Dentistry,” and “Pediatric Airway Solutions.”
Spear also hosts interactive workshops, which I find invaluable. For example, I took the online course “Airway Restoration and Sleep Dentistry: From Prevention to Control” and will be traveling to Scottsdale in April for the hands-on component.
This topic was particularly rewarding and provided insight into how the airway impacts pediatric patients and their development, and I am eager to get hands-on with it. I am a huge advocate for continuous learning regardless of how dentists interpret it.
Q: Can you share some emerging trends or technologies in pediatric dentistry that could help make early visits smoother for both children and dentists?
A: Preventive dentistry has taken center stage over the past five years, which is a really positive sign. This includes proactive care, such as the use of silver diamine fluoride. Our office uses SDF for select cases, especially for children who may not tolerate traditional “drill-and-fill” dentistry, and we have seen some great results so far.
It is a great way to inhibit decay that may already be present, prevent further decay from developing, and make the visit more pleasant while also keeping our patients healthier.
Q: Any final tips for dental practices, especially regarding children’s oral health?
A: If I had to emphasize just one message, I would emphasize the importance of early dental checkups for healthy growth, development, and overall oral health. The more dentists and their team members can encourage parents to bring their children in for care early, the better their dental and overall health will be throughout their lives.
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