We are proud to offer children’s dental care for kids of all ages, so they can feel confident in their smiles and avoid issues that could cause discomfort, such as tooth decay. We would love to see them now and help them start the holidays with better oral health! In today’s blog, your Ankeny, IA, dentist talks about helping kids with children’s dentistry.
When Kids Need to See the Dentist
How often do your little ones need to see the dentist, and when should these appointments start? We typically recommend an initial visit once the first baby tooth arrives, usually around age one. Starting at age two, children should see our team for a checkup and cleaning every six months. These routine visits are especially important for helping kids maintain good oral health, as we can catch issues like tooth decay in the early stages and treat them before they cause pain or threaten the stability of the tooth. Our team can also discuss ways to improve their oral hygiene habits and protect their smiles, and these visits also help lower the risk of dental anxiety later in life, as they become accustomed to seeing us and may be more likely to continue visiting the dentist on their own as adults.
The Exam and Cleaning or Your Children
Our exam involves a diagnosis with comfortable and accurate digital imaging, so we can catch problems in their earliest stages, and make sure baby teeth arrive and fall out on schedule so permanent teeth have a clear path to eruption, helping kids avoid misalignment. In the same visit, we also clean the teeth to remove all plaque and tartar from them, a process that helps lower the risk of bad breath, teeth stains, and cavities. This can also help limit gingivitis risk in older kids.
Preventing Cavities with Fluoride and Dental Sealants
Our team is also proud to offer treatments to help lower the risk of tooth decay in little smiles. For example, we can offer fluoride varnish as part of the checkup visit, which coats the teeth and keeps enamel strong and lowers the risk of tooth decay for months to come. We also know kids have trouble reaching the rear teeth when they brush and floss, so we can coat these in dental sealants, which means the risk of cavities is reduced, and for years at a time too!
If you have any questions about our approach to children’s dentistry, or if you want to schedule a visit for your little one now before the holidays arrive, then contact our team today to get started!
Dental Impressions Provides Children’s Dentistry
Whether you have a toddler or a teen, we can help your little one enjoy better oral health. To schedule an appointment for children’s dental services, then call Dental Impressions in Ankeny, IA today at (515) 965-0230.
