Dental Checkups, Cleanings and X-rays

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends your child's first dental visit after the first tooth erupts and no later than the child's first birthday. The children's dentist can then perform a baseline oral care exam and provide parents with information on children's dental care. Kids should see the dentist every six months for a cleaning and regular checkup. Tooth decay is more likely to happen when kids are young so it is important to have regular appointments.

During each teeth cleaning appointment, you and your child can expect a:

  • Full oral exam to identify changes in the tissues of the mouth.
  • Diagnosis of any dental conditions. The dentist will perform the exam and look for cavities or other dental conditions.
  • Preventative cleaning. The hygienist will clean and polish the teeth to remove sticky bacteria called plaque. When plaque builds up, it can cause tooth decay. The hygienist will also teach your child proper brushing and flossing as needed, and answer any dental questions you may have.

Your child will need a full set of x-rays every 3-5 years and bite wing (partial) x-rays every year. New patients will need full x-rays at their first appointment unless recent x-rays are submitted from a previous dentist. X-rays are very important in finding cavities and disease not seen by the naked eye. We use low-levels of x-rays to make them as safe as possible.

Sedation Dentistry

Sometimes a form of sedation dentistry is the best option for children. We offer all levels of sedation on-site including nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, intravenous/intramuscular sedation and general anesthesia. A Tooth Doctor for Kids uses different types of sedation dependant on your child’s needs.

All staff members who work with your child are CPR certified and use pulse oximeters, heart rate monitors and blood pressure monitors to ensure your child is in excellent care throughout his or her sedation appointment.

Fillings or Crowns

When cavities are small, fillings are necessary to help keep the tooth decay from spreading. If the cavity is large or affects several of the tooth surfaces, then a crown may be necessary. A crown covers the entire tooth like a cap while a filling covers a smaller portion of the tooth.

Fillings and crowns may be white or silver. A white filling is called a composite filling. These fillings are designed to match the color of the tooth. White fillings may not be strong enough in certain situations and they do cost a little more so they may not be covered by certain dental plans. Silver fillings are called amalgam fillings. Silver fillings are generally stronger and less costly than white fillings. Silver fillings are often used on back teeth where chewing force requires stronger fillings.

Sealants

Dental sealants are a tooth colored plastic material applied to the chewing surfaces of the teeth to "seal out" plaque and food to prevent cavities. The sealant material is "painted" on the chewing surface of the back teeth and it hardens in seconds. Sealants are commonly placed on the permanent 6 year and 12 year molars because decay is more likely to develop on these back teeth.

Fluoride Treatment

Fluoride helps protect teeth from decay. Fluoride treatments are given once a year, or as needed to restore fluoride levels, to all children under the age of 14 during their regularly scheduled exam and cleaning. The fluoride is either a foam or gel placed in trays set over the child's teeth. 

Space Maintainers

If a tooth falls out due to injury or decay, a space maintainer may be needed to hold the place of the tooth. If a space maintainer is not put in the vacant space the surrounding teeth can crowd and take over that space. This makes the permanent tooth come in crooked or crowded which can cause difficulties in chewing and talking. A space maintainer can be a band or crown attached to another tooth. When the permanent tooth starts to grow in, the dentist can remove the space maintainer.