As with adults, we take a preventive approach to safeguarding little smiles. From checkups and cleanings, to fluoride treatments and dental sealants, we can help kids enjoy optimal oral health! In today’s blog, your Ankeny, IA, dentist talks about our preventive approach to children’s dentistry.
Starting With Your Child’s Checkup and Cleaning
You need a checkup and cleaning with our team every six months, and the same goes for kids too! The first visit is a wellness visit at around age one, when the first baby tooth erupts. But by age two, kids need to start seeing our team twice a year for an exam, so we can monitor the smile as it grows. We watch for issues with baby teeth erupting and falling out, ensuring permanent ones can arrive without complication. We also look for common issues like tooth decay, which needs to be treated even in baby teeth to avoid painful infections and premature tooth loss. Losing teeth early is a recipe for dental misalignment!
In the same visit, we also clean little smiles. A dental cleaning allows us to remove all plaque and tartar, which brushing and flossing alone cannot accomplish. The procedure helps lower the risk of cavities and gingivitis, and also fights teeth stains and bad breath.
Treatments to Prevent Cavities
Our team also offers two treatment options to lower the risk of cavities in little smiles. During each checkup appointment, our team will apply fluoride to the teeth in a varnish form, which keeps the enamel strong, even the weakened portions, so cavities can stay at bay. Application only takes a few seconds and kids need to avoid food and drink for about a half hour.
We also know that children may have trouble reaching their rear teeth when they brush and floss. As a result, food and drink particles can remain between teeth, allowing cavities to form. But with dental sealants, we apply a layer of acrylic that makes it impossible for food and drink particles to be trapped in the hard-to-reach rear molars. application only takes seconds and these layers can stay in place for up to ten years!
Continuing Prevention at Home
We also take time to talk to you and your kids about proper brushing and flossing habits, and how to choose smile healthy snacks and drinks to protect smiles from cavities. If you have any questions about children’s dentistry, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to help your kid enjoy their best smiles!
Dental Impressions Talks About Children’s Dentistry
We want to help safeguard kids against common issues like tooth decay and gingivitis. To find out more about keeping little smiles healthy and strong, then call Dental Impressions in Ankeny, IA today at (515) 965-0230.
