Usually, the youngest members of our family are the ones wanting to go to the dentist the least. However, dental hygiene is extra important for children. Research has proven time and time again that poor hygiene in young children can contribute to poor oral health later in life. While their “baby teeth” might fall out and be replaced with new and healthy adult teeth, the health of their gums will affect them for the rest of their life.
Restoring Oral Health A tooth may be in need of restoration for several reasons, including: Permanent damage from cavities or dental trauma Hypoplastic enamel Poorly formed outer tooth structure
Does your child experience fear and anxiety at the dental office? If so, your general dentist for children may suggest dental sedation. Dental sedation is very safe and can help reduce your child’s anxiety, especially during longer and more complex dental procedures.
At Smiles Dental 4 Kids we strive to help all of our patients feel cared for and as comfortable as possible. If your child has special needs that should be considered during their appointment, our friendly team will be happy to help them have an enjoyable visit.
Parents always want what is best for their child, and taking care of your infant’s dental hygiene ensures that their oral health will remain strong well into adulthood. Our dental office for children offers a wealth of consultative services to ensure that your child’s oral health puts them on the path to a healthy and beautiful smile.
Preventative Dentistry refers to the practice and procedures that contribute to the overall health of a child’s teeth and reduce the chance of further negative diagnoses. Preventative dentistry is both instructive, where the dental staff informs a patient the best way to take care of their teeth or follow up from a visit, and procedural, where a dentist will take action during a visit to prevent further cavities.
Regular dental cleanings from an early age help ensure your child’s dental health and set an enduring example for the importance of future oral and tooth care. Experts recommend that a child’s dental cleanings begin within six to 12 months of the eruption of the first tooth. It’s important to establish an early baseline exam of the teeth, oral tissues, jaws, gums, and bite to compare against future development and growth.
Dental sealants are a method of tooth protection available to patients of all ages but most useful early in life, right about the time that children’s molars start to come in. This simple preventative treatment is quick and painless and has been shown to reduce the chance of tooth decay by over 70 percent.
Fluoride, a naturally-occurring mineral found in water and soil, helps prevent tooth decay. Fluoride is also incorporated into toothpaste, mouthwash, and supplements to promote healthy tooth enamel. In addition, children’s dental offices offer topical fluoride treatments for young patients to help stave off decay, cavities, and infections.
When your children sign up for sports, you want them to have fun while learning life-enriching skills. Unfortunately, traumatic dental injuries can be painful and expensive. By giving your children well-fitting athletic mouthguards, you decrease that risk significantly. To make an informed decision about whether your child or teen needs a mouthguard, discuss these statistics, dental injury risks, and types of mouthguards with your dentist.
As children enter their teen years, maintaining good oral hygiene is important. Braces, fluctuating hormones, nutrition and mouth jewelry can contribute to dental issues ranging from tooth decay to tongue and gum infections. Understanding teen dentistry needs and learning about the different services general dentists for children can offer them helps ensure that your child receives the appropriate treatments and procedures when necessary.
Is your child getting ready to go back to school soon? If so, one important item to add to your to-do list is to schedule a school dental examination. During a school dental exam, our dentist will examine your child’s mouth to make sure everything is healthy and that there is no tooth decay. Regular exams can help keep your child’s smile healthy and bright, and prevent dental issues that could cause problems later in life.
Accidents can happen in an instant, and if your child experiences a dental emergency, it is important to contact our office immediately. In some instances, rapid treatment can be essential to save your child’s tooth. Before contacting our office, it is important to follow some basic guidelines for oral trauma: Immediately evaluate the mouth, head, face, or neck for further injuries. If you are unsure of the severity of the injury, we recommend taking your child immediately to the emergency room for evaluation.