Maintaining a healthy smile throughout life requires receiving quality dental care in childhood. By attending their first dental appointments, your child learns the importance of oral hygiene while receiving service that focuses on preventing common oral problems. Because tooth decay and gum disease are as much a threat to kids as their parents, regular cleanings help remove disease-causing plaque while they are still learning to fully brush. Routine examinations also provide the opportunity to detect and treat issues with your child’s mouth before they can get out of hand.
At your Ankeny, IA dental practice, we foster a welcoming environment to make your child feel at ease while getting used to receiving their cleanings. Because a positive experience at their initial visits can inform their attitude toward oral care in later years, we understand the importance of getting it right.
Helping Your Child Feel At Ease
At Dental Impressions of Ankeny, our positive tone welcomes your child to their first dental visits. We want these appointments to be as stress-free as possible to encourage them to continue taking care of their oral health in between visits while looking forward to our next meeting. We suggest scheduling this first visit as soon as their first tooth erupts or by their first birthday, whichever happens first. A simple knee-to-knee exam allows us to inspect that their teeth are coming in on time and check the health of their oral cavity. Beginning around age two, we recommend bringing them in for traditional cleanings on a semiannual basis.
Because children are still developing the dexterity to fully reach the entire surface of their teeth when brushing and flossing, professional cleaning is vital to remove plaque that could cause cavities or gum infections. At each visit, we will go over proper brushing and flossing techniques and answer any questions your kids have about oral hygiene.
Removing A Child’s Cavity
If we discover a cavity at their appointment, we will suggest treating it right away to preserve the remaining healthy material. When placing a dental filling, we will carefully explain each step of the procedure for their comfort. Because this may be their first restorative treatment, we will continue to educate them on the connection between tooth decay, sugar drinks and snacks, and their daily brushing and flossing habits.
Speak With Your Ankeny, IA Dentist About Scheduling An Appointment For Your Child
By practicing regular oral hygiene and receiving professional cleanings and exams, your child sets a foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles! We pride ourselves on creating a welcoming environment to help them in this pursuit. To schedule a visit for your child or for more information, call your Ankeny, IA dentist at (515)207-6182. We also serve patients from Alleman, Elkhart, Bondurant, and other surrounding communities.
