Children's Dentistry in Northborough, MA

It’s vital for parents not to overlook the importance of dental care for their children starting at a very young age. At Children’s Dentistry of Northborough, we provide oral health services for patients of all ages—from infants and toddlers to pre-teens, teens, and adults. At every age and every stage of life, we’re here to protect your family’s healthy smiles.

Infant Oral Health Care

Our dentists recommend that your child have their first dental appointment with us when their baby teeth first appear, but no later than age one. These early visits are meant to help your son or daughter adjust to new faces and new surroundings. Every child is unique, and we will proceed at a pace they feel comfortable with. If your child is receptive, the hygienist will perform a cleaning, but we won’t rush them. Dr. Macdonald will count your child’s teeth as they lay in your lap.

At this age, education on prevention is the most important thing. We use the time productively to talk to you about ways you can improve your child’s oral health care at home. More than 28% of children have cavities before they start kindergarten. Early care is a great step in improving oral health behaviors by giving care givers tools the can use to prevent cavities.

Pediatric Dental Services 

As your child develops, we’ll schedule dental exams and teeth cleaning appointments every six months. Our dentists may use dental x-rays and intraoral cameras to inform you about your child’s oral health. If we find a cavity, we’ll fill it, and if we find gum disease, our dental hygienist will provide gentle treatment to eliminate it. If your child is too young for treatment we may recommend silver diamine fluoride therapy to help arrest decay while we wait to treat the cavity.

Fluoride is a mineral that keeps bones and teeth healthy. Many kids already get sufficient amounts of fluoride in their diets and tap water. Some children will need a prescription supplement. We will let you know if you live in a town that doesn’t have fluoride in the tap water. Children benefit greatly from fluoride varnish treatments which we apply to the teeth after their cleaning to help prevent cavities.

Dental sealants are used to protect the rough chewing surfaces of teeth like molars from bacteria that cause cavities. Applying sealants is a simple procedure that usually does not require a local anesthetic. The sealant bonds into the depressions and grooves of the teeth forming a protective shield over the enamel.

Invisalign & Braces in Northborough

Dr. Anita Bhatt is our orthodontist in Northborough and likes to see children for an evaluation around age seven. At this age, she can determine if early orthodontic treatment—also referred to as phase one or interceptive orthodontics—will benefit your child’s future oral development.

Your child may not need braces, and, in fact, we may be able to provide early treatment that prevents the need for orthodontics in the future. If your child does need braces, Dr. Bhatt will customize their treatment to fit their unique needs. Some children don’t need early orthodontic care and will start braces or Invisalign with Dr. Bhatt when all the baby teeth fall out.

We Put Your Child’s Comfort First

Many children can benefit from the relaxation offered with sedation dentistry. Nitrous oxide is a very safe and gentle method for helping your son or daughter stay calm during their appointment. If your child has multiple procedures or extensive work planned, we’ll be happy to talk to you about in-office general anesthesia with Dr. Patrick McCarthy.

Schedule Your Child’s Dental Appointment in Northborough

We love treating children and giving them the positive, healthy start with their oral health care that they deserve. Whether you have a toddler who’s ready for their first appointment or a teen who needs braces, the dental team at Children’s Dentistry of Northborough can help.

Please call us at (508) 393-9394 to schedule your child’s next dental checkup and cleaning.