Children’s Dentistry
At Phillips Ranch dental, we will take care of all of your children's dental needs. Our pediatric dentist, Dr. Sibbach, is easily available for consultation and care in more complex situations.
Gentle, experienced care for your child’s teeth
At Phillips Ranch Dental in Pomona, we offer complete dental services for our young patients. From their very first check-up (when we let them ride the chair up and down, play with the mirrors, and learn about tooth-brushing) to braces or teeth whitening for teens, we want to make their experience as comfortable and pain-free as we possibly can.Â
Dr. Sibbach enjoys helping children learn about their teeth.
Dr. Howard Glassman has been practicing family dentistry in Pomona for more than 24 years. Because of his interest in providing complete, affordable dental treatment for the entire family, Dr. Glassman has made sure that his office includes specialists in children’s dentistry and orthodontics as well as excellent, gentle and professional hygienists. Dr. Sarah Sibbach is specially trained to work with young patients, and particularly enjoys helping children learn how to care for their teeth and prevent cavities.
Because we know just how important it is for a child to have a positive experience at the dentist, we strive to make every visit a comfortable one. With years of experience in helping young children, Dr. Glassman and Dr. Sibbach will make sure that your child's first dental experiences are pleasant ones.
Call us at 909-992-0394 to make an appointment or click here to request an appointment online.
When should I bring my child for a first dental visit?
Even young children can learn how to care for their teeth.
Dr. Glassman recommends that, unless you notice tooth problems earlier, a child’s first appointment should be at around 2 ½. We’ll let your child ride up and down in the chair, play with our mirrors, and, in between, we’ll take a quick look to see how his or her teeth are developing. We try to keep first visits simple, fun and entertaining.
Cavities can form as young as 3 or 4 years, so by that time it's good to do a thorough check up and X-rays if possible. Also, a very gentle cleaning and fluoride treatment can be done, or at least attempted.
Children's teeth, whether baby teeth or permanent, have special needs and must be cared for gently. Our hygienists are all very friendly with children, and know how to make them feel comfortable and relaxed. They will gently but thoroughly clean and polish your child’s teeth. Then they will demonstrate proper brushing and flossing techniques so your child can practice good oral hygiene in-between professional cleanings.
Dr. Sibbach is extra-gentle with kids, and if cavities are found, she will explain to them exactly what needs to happen to fill the cavity, and will take care of the filling quickly and painlessly.
Is it really important to treat cavities in baby teeth?
Dr. Glassman wants to be sure that your child’s teeth start healthy and stay healthy.
Many people wonder why it is that we "bother" to fill cavities in baby teeth, since the teeth are just going to give way to permanent teeth anyway. According to Dr. Glassman, paying attention to your child’s baby teeth is very important for his or her future dental health. Here’s why:
If a cavity is left untreated, your child will suffer. The decay will eventually reach the nerve which can cause a toothache, and abscess. We see children all the time with cavities that have gotten into the nerve with severe toothaches, swelling, infections, and general misery. It is now much harder (not to mention more expensive) to treat, then if a small filling had been done in the first place.
Space maintenance is important.It’s much better to take care of a baby tooth than to pull it out early. When a back baby tooth is lost early, the other baby teeth and even the permanent molars will move forward into the space. Often times the other permanent teeth will now not have room to erupt normally and many problems ensue. Often, when the permanent molar moves forward, it can never be properly repositioned.
By bringing your child in for regular dental check-ups and fluoride treatments, and helping him learn how to care for his own teeth, you can ensure that your child will have few, if any cavities.
Call us at 909-992-0394 to make an appointment or click here to request an appointment online.
Dental sealants keep smiles healthy
Besides cleanings and checkups, you can help keep your child’s teeth healthy with dental sealants, a plastic material that is painted on the teeth to help prevent tooth decay and cavities, especially in young patients.
We can apply a dental sealant to your child’s teeth in just one visit that will last for three to five years.
According to the American Dental Association, the average cost of applying a sealant to a tooth is far less than the cost of having the dentist fill a cavity. Most dental insurance plans cover sealants for permanent molars and some plans cover sealant application on all back teeth.
How are Dental Sealants applied?
Sealant application only takes a few minutes per tooth. First the teeth are thoroughly cleaned, then the surface of the tooth is roughened so that the sealant will bond to the tooth. The sealant is then painted on where it hardens almost immediately.
How long do Dental Sealants last?
Dental sealants typically protect your child’s teeth from decay from three to five years. Dr. Sibbach will inspect the sealant during checkups and can reapply as needed.
While sealants are not a replacement for proper oral hygiene, they can greatly reduce tooth decay by acting as a barrier between bacteria and difficult-to-reach areas of the teeth that are prone to decay. Sealants can help minimize cavities and can be applied to both baby teeth and permanent teeth.
Call us at 909-992-0394 to make an appointment or click here to request an appointment online.
Even Kids Have Teeth
By Howard Glassman, D.D.S.
How do you take care of kids' teeth? There are things to do when even before the first little "pearlies" arrive. You can get fluoride drops to add to the baby bottle and, later, fluoride vitamin tablets.
Later, it is becomes important to avoid "baby bottle caries." This is an all too common condition caused by giving babies a bottle with milk or fruit juice when they go to bed. The sweet liquid stays on their teeth for many hours and can cause rampant decay. The solution is...
"We as a family love everyone at Phillips Ranch Dental Group.
"Dr.Sibbach is our dentist, and she is amazing. She is very understanding to everyone’s needs, fast and efficient!
"The assistants Braulio and Carlos, are very welcoming and Jody rocks!
"have referred all of our family and anybody we could tell. They are great."
- Jennifer Steele
