What does a pediatric dentist do?
Pediatric dental care adapts treatment to the child's age and emotional world, not only to the condition of the teeth.
At Dr Haim Aseriel's dental clinic in Jerusalem, the starting point is simple: a child's first experiences at the dentist shape how he or she will feel about dental care for years to come. Every visit is therefore planned with age-appropriate ways of putting the child at ease, and the clinic's dental team follows children through each stage of growth, from the first baby tooth to the teenage years.
For English-speaking families in Jerusalem, the whole visit, from the explanations given to the child to the advice for parents, can take place in English. You leave with a written treatment plan when treatment is needed.
How is pediatric dental care different?
Many parents come to the clinic after their child refused to open his or her mouth at a previous dental visit. The reason is rarely stubbornness: more often, the approach simply was not adapted to a child.
Dental care adapted to children starts with emotional preparation, before any instrument touches the teeth.
This means a gradual introduction to the instruments, words chosen for the child's age and, when appropriate, the "Tell-Show-Do" technique: one of the basic behavior guidance techniques in the guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD).
Teeth grinding in children, for example, is handled very differently in a child than in an adult, and parents are involved in the plan.
According to the CDC, tooth decay is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood in the United States, and a bad dental experience at a young age can affect how a child approaches every future visit. This is why the clinic treats managing dental anxiety as part of the clinical protocol, not as an optional extra.
When should a child first see a pediatric dentist?
The first dental visit is recommended when the first tooth comes in, and no later than the first birthday, without waiting for a problem (AAPD).
Older advice was to wait until age 3 or 4. Today the approach is preventive: early detection of eruption patterns, guidance for parents on cleaning and diet and, later on, sealants on the molars, at a stage when care is simple. To know what to expect at each age, see how many teeth children have.
Why do baby teeth need treatment?
Baby teeth are not "temporary" in clinical terms: they play a key role in guiding the permanent teeth into place.
Children's dental care covers the full range of needs, from prevention and treatment of cavities in kids to restoring damaged baby teeth. Untreated tooth decay in children can lead to infection and pain and can harm the permanent teeth developing underneath. Dark spots on a child's teeth are covered on the page about black teeth in kids.
In practice: according to the CDC, children who brush every day with fluoride toothpaste get fewer cavities, and dental sealants on the back teeth prevent about 80% of cavities in those teeth.
Preventive dental care for children: sealants and fluoride varnish
Dental sealants are a thin coating placed on the chewing surfaces of the molars to close the deep grooves where food and bacteria collect. According to AAPD guidelines, they are indicated for baby and permanent teeth with pits and fissures, and at-risk grooves should be sealed as soon as possible; sealants are checked at routine visits and repaired or replaced as needed.
Fluoride varnish is a thin layer of fluoride that the dentist paints on the teeth. According to the CDC, fluoride varnish prevents about one third of cavities in baby teeth, and parents can ask the dentist about it as soon as the first tooth appears; how often it is applied depends on the child's risk of tooth decay (AAPD).
How to prepare your child for a dental visit
Good preparation reduces anxiety and helps the child cooperate in the dental chair. Poor preparation, on the other hand, can turn a simple visit into a challenge for everyone.
01
Talk about it beforehand
Explain what will happen in simple, positive words, without the word "pain".
02
Pick the right time
Book a morning appointment, when your child is rested rather than tired.
03
Keep the meal light
A light meal an hour or two before the visit is better than a heavy one.
04
Plan a small reward
Prepare a small treat for after the visit, but not candy.
05
Stay calm yourself
Children pick up on their parents' anxiety, and calm is contagious too.
Involving parents in this preparation is part of the treatment at the clinic.
Examination, treatment plan and price quote
detailed and personalized
During the consultation, Dr Haim Aseriel examines your teeth, explains all the options and gives you a transparent price quote, with no obligation. The clinic is at 12 HaTnufa Street, Jerusalem.
What anesthesia is used in children's dentistry?
General anesthesia makes it possible to treat children who cannot cooperate, but it is not a first-line option.
Most dental treatment for children is done under local anesthesia, with clear explanations beforehand and a pace adapted to the child.
Local anesthesia usually starts with a numbing gel before the injection. According to AAPD guidelines, sedation and general anesthesia are reserved for children for whom basic behavior guidance has not been enough, for children who cannot cooperate because of their age or a medical condition, or for extensive treatment, and they require a qualified team and a suitably equipped setting. The clinic does not provide general anesthesia.
Dental injuries to baby teeth: what to do
A child falls at the playground and hits a tooth. It is a common situation, yet many parents are not sure how to handle it.
After an injury to a baby tooth, see a dentist as soon as possible, ideally the same day. For urgent situations, see the page on emergency dental care.
Why does the difference between a baby tooth and a permanent tooth matter so much? A knocked-out permanent tooth should be put back in place right away if possible, whereas a knocked-out baby tooth must never be put back, because this can damage the developing permanent tooth beneath it. The child still needs to be examined: the decision to monitor, treat or remove an injured tooth requires a clinical assessment, often with an X-ray to check the root.
It is also important to check for a cracked tooth that cannot be seen with the naked eye. When a permanent tooth is injured, it sometimes needs to be splinted temporarily to the neighboring teeth.
Brushing at home: how much toothpaste for children?
Daily habits matter as much as visits to the clinic. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends fluoride toothpaste from the very first tooth, in an amount adapted to age:
- From the first tooth to age 3: a smear of fluoride toothpaste, about the size of a grain of rice.
- From age 3 to 6: a pea-size amount, with an adult supervising.
- At any age: the child spits out the toothpaste rather than swallowing it.
- Fluoride supplements (drops or tablets) are given only on prescription, to children at high risk of cavities, as decided by the dentist or doctor.
The clinic's dental hygienist can also help with prevention advice and early detection at regular visits.
How often should a child have a dental check-up?
According to the AAPD, children usually have a check-up every six months, or at another interval based on their individual risk of cavities, as the dentist recommends.
Pediatric dental care in Jerusalem: practical information
The clinic does not publish a price list: the cost depends on the treatment needed, which is explained after the examination, with a written estimate before any treatment begins. The clinic provides itemized receipts that you can submit to your insurer; coverage depends on your policy, so check with your insurer. The clinic is at 12 HaTnufa Street in Talpiot, south Jerusalem, open Sun 8:00–19:00 · Mon 9:00–19:00 · Tue–Wed 9:00–21:00 · Thu 8:30–21:00 · Fri 8:00–14:00. Parents can read about Dr Haim Aseriel and see patient reviews before booking.
Pediatric dentist: frequently asked questions
A child should first see a dentist when the first tooth comes in, and no later than the first birthday, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD). There is no need to wait for a problem: the first visit checks the teeth and gums, spots eruption problems early and shows parents how to brush, what to feed and how to prevent cavities.
Baby teeth need treatment because they hold space for the permanent teeth and guide them into place. Untreated tooth decay in baby teeth can cause pain and infection and can harm the permanent teeth developing underneath. Losing a baby tooth too early can also let neighboring teeth drift into the space.
To prepare a child for a dental visit, explain what will happen in simple, positive words and avoid the word "pain". Book a morning appointment when the child is rested, give a light meal beforehand and stay calm yourself, because children pick up on their parents' anxiety. A small non-food reward afterward helps.
Most dental treatment for children is done under local anesthesia, combined with clear explanations and a pace adapted to the child. Sedation or general anesthesia is considered only when these measures are not enough, when the child cannot cooperate because of age or a medical condition, or when extensive treatment is needed, and it is carried out by a qualified team.
Yes. Children and teenagers up to age 18 are entitled to dental care under the national health basket (sal habriut), through their health fund (kupat holim). Preventive care, such as a periodic check-up, oral hygiene instruction, scaling and sealants, is free. Conservative treatment, such as fillings, root canal treatment and extractions, involves a co-payment, and orthodontics is not included. Care is given at the health fund's clinics or at clinics under agreement with it, and private treatment outside the health fund is not reimbursed. Dr Haim Aseriel's clinic is a private clinic: health basket benefits are used through your health fund and the clinics under agreement with it.
If a child knocks out a baby tooth, do not put it back in the socket, because this can damage the permanent tooth underneath. Take the child to a dentist as soon as possible, ideally the same day. The dentist examines the mouth, may take an X-ray and decides whether to monitor, treat or remove any injured tooth.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Oral Health Tips for Children, 2024 – View source
- American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Periodicity of Examination, Preventive Dental Services, 2022 – View source
- American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Behavior Guidance for the Pediatric Dental Patient – View source
- Day PF et al., Dental Traumatology, 2020 – View source
- ADA Council on Scientific Affairs, Journal of the American Dental Association, 2014 – View source
- Rozier RG et al., Journal of the American Dental Association, 2010 – View source
- Kol Zchut, Dental care for children and teenagers in the health basket (Hebrew), 2026 – View source
