Preventing Problems Before They Start
The health of your child’s teeth and mouth is very important to the well-being of his or her entire body, and while routine brushing and flossing at home is necessary to keep your child’s smile looking its best, visiting the dentist for a comprehensive exam and cleaning is essential. The American Dental Association recommends that your child visit the dentist every six months starting at the age of one year old to ensure his or her teeth stay healthy and smile stays beautiful.
By routinely seeing the dentist for exams and cleanings, your child can:
- Prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath
- Avoid costly and extensive dental procedures
- Have white teeth by reducing staining from food and drinks
- Shorten the time spent in the dentist’s office
- Have a smile that will last a lifetime
The Exam
During your child’s exam, the dentist will thoroughly examine your child’s teeth and gums for signs of tooth decay, gum disease, and other health problems. The dentist may also want to take X-rays to see what is happening beneath the surface of the teeth and gums. Whether these X-rays are traditional or digital, the images provided will help the dentist discover dental issues not visible to the naked eye. Your child's bite will be examined to see how the teeth line up. This allows us to decide if an orthodontist needs to be involved in the future. We are also performing an oral cancer screening during the exam.
Professional Cleanings
On the first visit for your child, we may elect to perform a toothbrush prophy instead of a spinbrush prophy. Our goal is to gain your child's trust over time. The toothbrush prophy will consist on prescription grade fluoride application. We will demonstrate the proper way to floss teeth. The removal of plaque and calculus can be performed using a special instrument. We recommend to wait at least 20 minutes before eating or drinking after fluoride application. Our office likes to get the parents involved in the exam so we may ask the parent to look over our shoulder to see exactly what our doctor sees. Our doctor will let the parent know of any cavities or issues that need to be addressed.