Why Children Need Dental Checkups
We want to see kids for a checkup visit every six months, which can help them maintain good oral health and avoid common issues like tooth decay. During these visits, we offer an exam with precision and accuracy, and clean the teeth too. In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist talks about the importance of children’s dental exams.
When an Exam is Recommended
When your children undergo a dental exam, we can look at their teeth, gums, roots, and oral structures with advanced imaging technology, including digital x-rays, so we can make a diagnosis with precision and accuracy. Our team then identifies areas of concern in the earliest stages, often before your child develops discomfort. For example, we often watch for tooth decay, gingivitis, dental infection, and issues with baby teeth erupting and falling out, as complications with the loss of baby teeth and the arrival of permanent ones can lead to misalignment. These visits also help kids better understand the importance of good oral hygiene, and they gain knowledge on proper brushing and flossing habits. These visits then lower the risk of dental anxiety and increase the chances kids will continue treatment in adulthood.
Preventive Treatments
During the checkup, we could also apply unique treatments to help lower the risk of tooth decay. For example, we can apply fluoride to the teeth in a varnish form, which helps strengthen the outer enamel to make the chances of cavities developing much lower. We could also apply dental sealants to the rear teeth, which prevents food and drinks particles from being trapped in the areas kids have trouble reaching when they brush and floss. These sealants can stay in place for up to ten years and significantly lower the risk of cavities.
Cleaning the Teeth
During the dental exam visit, we will also take time to clean the teeth too. A dental cleaning removes all plaque and tartar from the teeth, which lowers the risk of cavities, gingivitis, bad breath, and even teeth stains. The process takes a few minutes, and we then polish the teeth to make it more difficult for plaque and tartar to adhere to the surfaces of the teeth. If you have any questions about the importance of a six-month checkup and cleaning visit with our team, or if you would like to schedule your child’s first visit of 2024, then please reach out to our team today to learn more. We want to help safeguard your child’s smile!
Schedule Your Child’s Six-Month Checkup
Our team wants to help your kids maintain their best oral health. To learn more about preventive dentistry for kids, then please contact your Dallas, TX pediatric dentist, Dr. Marr, by calling (214) 321-4880.
filed under: Children's Dental Services