Preventive Dental Care for Your Child
As parents, we want you to know everything we know about your child's dental health. We recommend that children come to our office at regular intervals, usually 2-3 times per year, for a preventive dental cleaning and examination. Our dentists and hygienists will check your child's teeth carefully to look for areas that may be prone to tooth decay. We will also use digital x-rays to monitor your child's development and provide you with any recommendations for orthodontic care or other specialist dental services.
Young teeth have natural grooves and pits in the chewing surface that are often deep, making them difficult to clean with normal brushing. Bacteria can collect in these spots and develop into dental cavities. We may recommend preventive services to help protect the teeth from tooth decay, including:
Dental Sealants
Sealants are a plastic coating material for the chewing surface of the tooth that is painted on and hardened using a special dental light. There is no drilling or anesthetic needed! The sealant fills and covers the chewing surface pits and grooves and helps to protect the tooth from decay-causing bacteria.
Sealants also make it easier for you and your child to keep tooth surfaces clean with normal brushing. Dental sealants are a very simple procedure that can help protect your child's teeth for years.
Fluoride Treatments & Fluoride Varnish
Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the body. Fluoride is a mineral that interacts with tooth enamel to help make it stronger and less vulnerable to bacteria and dental plaque. Dental fluoride is applied by rinse or using a painted fluoride ‘varnish’ on the tooth surface. We usually provide fluoride treatments for children at their regular cleaning appointments.
If Your Child needs Dental Treatment
If your child needs a filling or a tooth extraction, our dentists will talk with you about the treatment and provide you with their recommendations. We want to make sure your child has a completely comfortable experience!
Most children are curious and calm after we introduce them to the dental office, so we are able to take care of any fillings or baby teeth extractions in our practice. Sometimes, we may recommend that your child see a children's dental specialist (pediatric dentist) if they have extensive needs or if we feel like they may be a candidate for dental sedation. Our main concern is always your child's comfort.
