What is a family dentist to you?

Is it someone who can care for every member of your family — from 2 years old to 92?

If that sounds right to you, then we welcome you to visit Dr. James Ross, Family, Cosmetic & Laser Dentistry in Novi, MI.

To learn more about us or to schedule a visit, call us at 248-697-2487 or contact us online. We look forward to meeting and building a relationship with you and your family.

Oral Care Should Start Early

We noted above that children 2 and older are welcome to visit our dentist office. However, their dental care should begin on the day your children are born.

Most children don’t have teeth right away, but you can and should use a moist cloth to gently wipe their gums after feedings.  When the first tooth does erupt, you should start brushing it, too. If your child has teeth, then your child can have tooth decay.

With small children, you need a child-size toothbrush and a rice-sized squeeze of toothpaste. This is sufficient for the first few years of your son or daughter’s life.

When he or she has two teeth that are side-by-side, then you should begin gently flossing between those teeth as well.

Set A Good Example For Your Family

We encourage everyone to visit our dentist office for regular dental cleanings and exams. When you come to the dentist, we welcome you to bring your child as well.

This gives your daughter or son a chance to become familiar with our office and to see what we do. For many children, this builds curiosity about dental care, so when they are old enough for their first cleaning, they are eager to get in the dentist chair.

If you have more than one child, Dr. Ross also recommends letting younger siblings watch their older brother or sister at the dentist office. Younger children often want to do the things that older kids do. This is another way to use their natural interests to encourage good oral health.

Your Child’s First Dental Visit

When the day arrives for your kid’s first official dental appointment, we will do everything that we can to make it a special experience for him or her.

We offer chair rides to make the visit fun. We play games and offer prizes as well. If your child would like to watch TV, we can let her or him try our futuristic glasses.

Your child’s comfort is important to us as well. We will be happy to provide a pillow, blanket, or both so your little one can feel cozy in our dentist chair.

There’s a reason we received the 2015 Metro Parent Magazine’s Mom’s Choice Award. And we remain just as committed to being a kid-friendly family dentist office.

If you have a question at any time, please feel free to ask before, during, or after your visit. We are happy to help any way that we can.

Working With Older Kids

As your children get older, their needs will change. From the time their primary teeth start falling out until their last permanent teeth erupt, regular dental visits are especially important.

This gives us an opportunity to monitor how their mouths are developing and to catch problems in the early stages.

We would love it if all our patients had perfectly straight, evenly-spaced teeth. The reality is that many children will need orthodontic care, but that doesn’t necessarily mean braces.

For many teens (and adults), clear aligners are a discreet and comfortable alternative to braces. We offer both Invisalign® and ClearCorrect at our practice. We will be happy to discuss the differences between these two systems with you and your teen when the time is right.

Ongoing Care For Adults

Your oral health is important for your overall health throughout your life. Unfortunately, you also are more likely to experience problems like tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss as you get older.

We will work with you to help prevent those problems whenever we can. At the same time, we have a variety of tools, techniques, and services at our disposal to restore your smile if needed.

We Hope To See Your Family At Our Dentist Office

After you visit our dentist office, we think you will understand why so many families in and around Novi, MI, trust us with their dental care. To schedule a visit, call 248-697-2487 or contact us online today.