Dentistry for children is a field that deals with the oral health of kids from infancy through their teen years. Kids have different needs than adults, and dentists who specialize in kids have the training and experience to treat them effectively. The earliest children begin getting dentistry for children, the healthier their mouths will remain throughout their lifetime. This helps to prevent tooth decay and cavities that can lead to pain, trouble concentrating and other medical issues. Children with healthy teeth eat well and smile confidently.
They are also able to educate kids on good oral habits that will last them a lifetime.
Dental checkups
Dental checkups are the most important way to ensure your child’s oral health. These six-month visits allow a dentist to evaluate your child’s mouth for problems and to teach the proper methods of brushing and flossing. The dentist can also help to correct any bad habits such as thumb sucking or bruxism that may be damaging the teeth and gums.
Parents should make sure to prepare their kids for the upcoming appointment by talking about what will happen during the visit using simple explanations. This will help them feel comfortable and ready for the visit. Regular visits will also help a kid to develop a strong rapport with their dentist that can last for a lifetime.
Fluoride treatments
A naturally occurring mineral, fluoride has been proven to prevent and even reverse tooth decay. It penetrates the enamel, strengthening it and preventing and slowing the damage caused by acid that breaks down the protective layer of the teeth (demineralization). Fluoride also promotes remineralization, which strengthens and repairs the enamel after acid strips away its minerals. While kids can get fluoride from toothpaste, a professional treatment gives your child an extra boost that will help them fight cavities throughout their lifetime.
Dental professionals apply gels, foams, and varnishes of varying strengths to the surface of your child’s teeth during their routine cleaning appointment. Fluoride can be dangerous if ingested in large amounts, so it’s important to make sure your child doesn’t swallow any of the product after they leave the office and that they rinse correctly with water (and spit, not swallow, when brushing). Fluoride treatments are recommended for all infants and children at least twice a year.
Dental sealants
Even if your child brushes their teeth twice daily and flosses regularly, they may still get cavities. This is because the grooves and pits in their molars are hard for toothbrushes to reach and can trap food particles and sugars that bacteria can turn into acid, leading to tooth decay.
Sealants are a quick and painless preventative dental treatment. They are a white or clear resin liquid that is brushed onto the chewing surfaces of their back teeth and then bonded to them using a curing light, creating a protective layer that stops food particles from getting stuck in their grooves.
The best candidates for dental sealants are children between the ages of 6 and 16 who have permanent molars with deep grooves. However, children who are prone to developing cavities or have thin enamel (enamel hypoplasia) due to genetics may also benefit from them. Many insurance providers cover sealants as a preventive dental service.
Routine cleanings
Ideally, children should visit the dentist every 6 months for a professional cleaning and oral exam. At these appointments, our dental hygienists remove plaque and tartar from areas that may be difficult for children to clean with their toothbrushes, helping to prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
In addition, routine teeth cleanings are the perfect opportunity to teach children healthy brushing and flossing habits. When these habits are established early on, they will last a lifetime, impacting not only their oral health but also their overall wellbeing.
Additionally, dental exams and cleanings allow us to identify problems like tooth decay or malocclusion (misalignment of the teeth) early on, making them easier to treat with simpler, less invasive procedures. In most cases, insurance will cover these appointments completely for kids. We also monitor the growth and development of the child’s mouth, ensuring that everything is progressing as it should.