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Sucking on a thumb, finger or pacifier is a normal, soothing habit for babies and toddlers, and many children stop on their own.
Why dentists ask about it: when the habit is frequent and intense and continues as permanent teeth come in, it can affect how the teeth line up and how the upper and lower jaws meet. How often and how hard a child sucks matters more than simply whether they do.
General tips often shared:
- Praise and gentle encouragement tend to work better than scolding.
- Notice when the habit happens (boredom, tiredness) and offer a comfort alternative.
- Never dip a pacifier in sugar, honey or syrup.
- For older children, a dentist can explain options if the habit is hard to break.
When to ask: bring it up at your child’s regular dental visits so the dentist can watch how the teeth and bite are developing. If you’re unsure whether a pediatric dentist or orthodontist is the right person to see, our which dentist do I need? tool tool explains the differences.
General education only, not a diagnosis or treatment advice. Please see a licensed dentist about your own situation. For a medical emergency (trouble breathing or swallowing, heavy bleeding, a major injury or rapidly spreading swelling), call 911 or go to the nearest ER.
Sealants are thin protective coatings painted onto the chewing surfaces of back teeth (molars). Those surfaces have deep grooves where food and bacteria collect and that toothbrush bristles can’t fully reach. A sealant smooths over the grooves to help prevent cavities there.
How they’re placed: the tooth is cleaned and dried, the coating is painted on and hardened, often with a light. There’s usually no drilling or numbing, and it’s quick.
Who they’re for: they are commonly recommended for children’s permanent molars soon after they come in, often around ages 6 and 12, and sometimes for other teeth or adults at higher risk of decay.
Questions to ask:
- Which teeth would be sealed and why?
- How will you check the sealants at future visits?
- Does my plan cover sealants, and for which ages? (Many plans have age or frequency limits; see the dental insurance glossary.)
Sealants don’t replace brushing, flossing and fluoride, but they can be one more layer of protection. Some school-based programs and health centers also offer them. See our community health centers directory to find one by state.
General education only, not a diagnosis or treatment advice. Please see a licensed dentist about your own situation. For a medical emergency (trouble breathing or swallowing, heavy bleeding, a major injury or rapidly spreading swelling), call 911 or go to the nearest ER.
A lost filling or crown is usually urgent but not an emergency, unless there is severe pain, swelling or an injury. It’s still worth calling a dentist soon, because the exposed tooth can be sensitive and more likely to break or decay.
If a crown came off:
- Keep the crown in a clean container and bring it with you. It may be possible to re-cement it.
- Don’t use household glue. Pharmacies sell temporary dental cement, which some people use briefly; follow the package directions and still see a dentist.
If a filling fell out:
- Rinse gently with warm water and keep the area clean with careful brushing.
- Chew on the other side and avoid sticky, hard or very hot or cold foods.
Call sooner if the tooth is broken, sharp, very painful or there is swelling. Our dental emergency checker can help you decide how fast to act, and the dental glossary explains terms such as “crown,” “core buildup” and “post.”
General education only, not a diagnosis or treatment advice. Please see a licensed dentist about your own situation. For a medical emergency (trouble breathing or swallowing, heavy bleeding, a major injury or rapidly spreading swelling), call 911 or go to the nearest ER.
Swelling linked to a tooth often comes from an infection (such as an abscess), and infections in the head and neck can become serious. General guidance:
Call 911 or go to the ER right away if swelling is spreading quickly, reaches the eye, under the jaw or down the neck, or comes with trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, being unable to open your mouth, a high fever or feeling very unwell.
Contact a dentist the same day if you have swelling in the gum or cheek, a pimple-like bump on the gum, throbbing pain, or a bad taste, even without fever.
Things to avoid: don’t apply heat to the outside of the face, and don’t try to pop or drain a bump yourself. Antibiotics alone usually don’t fix the source of a dental infection; the tooth typically needs treatment.
Our dental emergency checker walks through these warning signs. If you don’t have a dentist, our dentists near me directory can help you find one, and people on Medicaid can use the Medicaid dentist finder.
General education only, not a diagnosis or treatment advice. Please see a licensed dentist about your own situation. For a medical emergency (trouble breathing or swallowing, heavy bleeding, a major injury or rapidly spreading swelling), call 911 or go to the nearest ER.
Here’s a general way to think about it:
Get emergency medical care now (911 or ER) if there is swelling spreading toward the eye or neck, trouble swallowing or breathing, a high fever, or a serious injury.
Try to reach a dentist the same day for severe pain that does not let you sleep, swelling in the gum or face, a knocked-out adult tooth, or a bad taste with pus, which can signal infection.
It may be able to wait for the next business day if the pain is mild, comes and goes, or is only sensitivity to hot or cold, as long as it isn’t getting worse.
Ways to find care after hours: call your regular office (many list an emergency number), check our dentists near me directory for offices with extended hours, or ask your insurer’s member line.
Meanwhile: rinse gently with warm water, avoid chewing on that side, and avoid very hot, cold or sugary foods. Ask a pharmacist about over-the-counter pain relief that is safe for you, and never put aspirin directly on the gum. Our dental emergency checker can help you judge urgency.
General education only, not a diagnosis or treatment advice. Please see a licensed dentist about your own situation. For a medical emergency (trouble breathing or swallowing, heavy bleeding, a major injury or rapidly spreading swelling), call 911 or go to the nearest ER.
Pediatric dental groups in the US generally recommend a first dental visit by a child’s first birthday, or within about six months of the first tooth coming in. That can feel early, but the first visit is usually short and gentle.
What typically happens: the dentist looks at the teeth and gums (often with the child on a parent’s lap), checks for early signs of decay, and talks with parents about brushing, fluoride, bottles and sippy cups, and teething.
Why it helps: it lets problems be caught early, gives parents a chance to ask questions, and helps a child get used to the dental office before anything needs fixing.
Tips for the day: pick a time when your child is usually rested, keep the talk about the visit simple and positive, and bring a list of questions.
A pediatric dentist has extra training in children’s care, though many general dentists see kids too. Our which dentist do I need? tool can help you decide. Families of children with disabilities or sensory needs may also find our special needs dentistry guide useful.
General education only, not a diagnosis or treatment advice. Please see a licensed dentist about your own situation. For a medical emergency (trouble breathing or swallowing, heavy bleeding, a major injury or rapidly spreading swelling), call 911 or go to the nearest ER.
Thanks to everyone for any tips you add here. A few general approaches dental teams often mention for anxious kids:
- Keep the language neutral. Words like “hurt,” “shot” or “drill” can raise worry. Many offices use their own kid-friendly terms, so let the team do the explaining.
- Do a practice run. Playing “dentist” at home, counting teeth with a toothbrush, or reading a picture book about a visit can make it feel familiar.
- Ask about a “happy visit.” Some offices offer a short get-to-know-you visit before any treatment.
- Choose the time well. Morning appointments, when kids are less tired, often go more smoothly.
- Stay calm yourself. Children pick up on a parent’s nerves.
- Ask about options. If anxiety is severe, a pediatric dentist can talk about behavior approaches and, when appropriate, sedation choices.
For children with autism, sensory processing differences or other special needs, our special needs dentistry guide covers questions to ask when looking for an office.
General education only, not a diagnosis or treatment advice. Please see a licensed dentist about your own situation. For a medical emergency (trouble breathing or swallowing, heavy bleeding, a major injury or rapidly spreading swelling), call 911 or go to the nearest ER.
A few extra notes to help questions here get useful answers:
- Give general context. Your age range, the general area of the mouth, how long a symptom has lasted and what makes it better or worse are more helpful than personal details.
- Look up unfamiliar terms. If your treatment plan mentions words like “SRP,” “onlay” or “buildup,” our dental glossary explains common terms in plain language. Insurance terms are covered in the dental insurance glossary.
- Don’t wait on urgent problems. Replies may take time. If you have severe pain, swelling or a fever, use the dental emergency checker or contact a dentist right away.
- Not sure who to ask? The which dentist do I need? tool explains the difference between general dentists and specialists.
Answers from dental professionals here are general education and cannot replace an exam. Moderators may remove posts that ask for or give a specific diagnosis based only on a description.
General education only, not a diagnosis or treatment advice. Please see a licensed dentist about your own situation. For a medical emergency (trouble breathing or swallowing, heavy bleeding, a major injury or rapidly spreading swelling), call 911 or go to the nearest ER.
While we wait for dental professionals to weigh in, here are some questions that patient-education materials commonly encourage people to ask at a checkup:
- “Is there anything you are watching in my mouth, and what would make it need treatment?”
- “Is my brushing and flossing missing any areas?”
- “What are my options for this treatment, including waiting, and what are the pros and cons of each?”
- “How urgent is this — should it be done now, or can it be planned?”
- “Can I get a written estimate and a list of the procedure codes so I can check with my insurance?”
- “Are any of my medications affecting my mouth, such as causing dry mouth?”
Our dental glossary can help if a term on your chart or estimate is unfamiliar, and the dental cost factors page explains what tends to make treatment cost more or less.
Dentists and hygienists: please add your own suggestions, and mention your role when you reply, as described in the forum guidelines.
General education only, not a diagnosis or treatment advice. Please see a licensed dentist about your own situation. For a medical emergency (trouble breathing or swallowing, heavy bleeding, a major injury or rapidly spreading swelling), call 911 or go to the nearest ER.
Some additional tips that apply wherever you live in the US:
- Verify the license. Each state has a dental board with a public license lookup, where you can confirm a dentist is licensed and see any public disciplinary actions.
- Confirm your network. Ask the office whether they are in-network for your specific plan name, not just the insurer. Our dental insurance glossary explains terms like “in-network” and “UCR.”
- Think about who you need. A general dentist handles most routine care; specialists handle things like gum disease, root canals or orthodontics. The which dentist do I need? tool tool can help.
- Ask about emergencies. Find out how the office handles urgent problems after hours.
- Accessibility. If you or a family member need extra support, our special needs dentistry guide has questions to ask.
When you’re ready to compare offices, you can search our dentists near me directory. Please share what has worked for you below.
General education only, not a diagnosis or treatment advice. Please see a licensed dentist about your own situation. For a medical emergency (trouble breathing or swallowing, heavy bleeding, a major injury or rapidly spreading swelling), call 911 or go to the nearest ER.
A short checklist for finding a dentist after a move:
- Request your records from your previous dentist, including recent X-rays, before or soon after you move. Offices can usually send them electronically.
- Check your coverage. If you changed jobs or plans, look up the new network and note your waiting periods and annual maximum. The dental insurance glossary explains these terms.
- Shortlist a few offices using our dentists near me directory, then call to ask about new-patient availability, hours and how they handle emergencies.
- Book a checkup soon, before anything hurts. New-patient appointments can take a while to get, and it’s much easier to get urgent care from an office that already knows you.
- Look into options if you’re on Medicaid. Coverage rules differ by state, so check your new state’s program and use the Medicaid dentist finder.
Older adults moving to a new area may also want to read our guide to dental coverage for seniors.
General education only, not a diagnosis or treatment advice. Please see a licensed dentist about your own situation. For a medical emergency (trouble breathing or swallowing, heavy bleeding, a major injury or rapidly spreading swelling), call 911 or go to the nearest ER.
Some extra pointers on reading a treatment estimate:
- Look for procedure codes. Estimates often list CDT codes (they start with “D”). Your insurer can tell you how each code is covered.
- Ask for a pre-treatment estimate (predetermination) from your insurer for larger work. It is not a guarantee, but it shows what the plan expects to pay.
- Check the plan limits. Your deductible, coverage percentage, annual maximum, waiting periods and frequency limits all affect what you pay. The dental insurance glossary defines each one.
- Ask about phasing. If several things are recommended, ask which are most urgent and whether work can be spread across plan years.
- Ask about alternatives, including what happens if you wait.
- Get it in writing and ask what could change the price during treatment.
Our dental cost factors page explains the main things that make treatment cost more or less, and the dental glossary can decode unfamiliar procedure names.
General education only, not a diagnosis or treatment advice. Please see a licensed dentist about your own situation. For a medical emergency (trouble breathing or swallowing, heavy bleeding, a major injury or rapidly spreading swelling), call 911 or go to the nearest ER.
A few general routes people use to make dental care more affordable without insurance:
- Community health centers. Many federally funded health centers offer dental care with sliding-scale fees based on income. See our community health centers directory to find one by state.
- Dental schools. Treatment by supervised students is often lower cost, though visits can take longer.
- Medicaid. Adult dental benefits vary a lot by state. Check eligibility and use our Medicaid dentist finder.
- Discount (savings) plans. These are not insurance; they give reduced rates at participating offices. Our dental plan calculator can help you compare a plan with paying directly.
- Ask the office. Many practices offer in-house membership plans, payment plans or self-pay pricing. It never hurts to ask for a written estimate and options.
- Prevention. Keeping up with cleanings and treating small problems early is usually less costly than waiting.
See our dental cost factors page for what drives prices up or down. Seniors may also find the guide to dental coverage for seniors helpful.
General education only, not a diagnosis or treatment advice. Please see a licensed dentist about your own situation. For a medical emergency (trouble breathing or swallowing, heavy bleeding, a major injury or rapidly spreading swelling), call 911 or go to the nearest ER.
Good questions to bring to a root canal consultation:
- Who will do it? General dentists do many root canals; an endodontist is a specialist in them and often handles more complex cases, such as molars with curved roots or retreatments.
- Will I need a crown afterward? Back teeth often do, which affects timing and total cost.
- How many visits? Some are done in one visit; others take two.
- What are the alternatives? Usually extraction, which may then lead to considering an implant, bridge or partial denture.
- What should recovery be like? Ask what level of soreness is normal and when to call.
- Cost and coverage. Ask for a written estimate with procedure codes and check them with your plan.
Our dental glossary explains terms like “pulp,” “endodontic” and “buildup,” and the dental cost factors page covers what affects the price. Not sure whether you need a specialist? Try the which dentist do I need? tool tool.
General education only, not a diagnosis or treatment advice. Please see a licensed dentist about your own situation. For a medical emergency (trouble breathing or swallowing, heavy bleeding, a major injury or rapidly spreading swelling), call 911 or go to the nearest ER.
Some general points for comparing ways to replace missing teeth:
- Implants replace the root with a post in the jawbone. They don’t rely on neighboring teeth but need enough healthy bone and usually take several months, sometimes with grafting. See our dental implants process guide.
- Bridges use the teeth on either side as supports. They are usually quicker, but those neighboring teeth are reshaped for crowns.
- Dentures (full or partial) are removable and can replace many teeth at once. They take some getting used to and need periodic adjustments. Our dentures guide explains the types.
What dentists usually weigh: your overall health, bone and gum condition, the health of nearby teeth, how many teeth are missing, budget and personal preference.
Costs differ widely by case, so ask for a written estimate for each option. Our dental cost factors page explains what drives prices, and seniors can check the guide to dental coverage for seniors for coverage ideas.
General education only, not a diagnosis or treatment advice. Please see a licensed dentist about your own situation. For a medical emergency (trouble breathing or swallowing, heavy bleeding, a major injury or rapidly spreading swelling), call 911 or go to the nearest ER.
