Do you think it is time to schedule an appointment with the kids dentist? This is an important part of your child’s oral health care. Before you come into the office, it may be nice to understand what to expect from this visit. Your child’s dentist has the knowledge and training to do both preventive and restorative work.
Parents should not feel like they must wait until a child is in school or has a mouthful of teeth to schedule an appointment with the kids dentist. A young patient’s dental care should begin soon after the first tooth makes its appearance. Teeth usually start coming in around four to six months after birth. Six months after this, parents should set up a visit to the dentist’s office. From this point, kids should visit with the dentist for checkups every six months. This should extend into adulthood and throughout life.
The semiannual wellness checkup is critical for the child’s dental health. Even if the child brushes and flosses diligently, these examinations help the dentist identify concerns or emerging conditions. A wellness exam begins with X-rays and thorough teeth cleaning. The hygienist scrapes away any buildup and cleans every side of every tooth. The hygienist will also polish the teeth. The dentist has a look inside the young patient’s mouth and looks for signs of decay or gum disease. The X-rays will reveal whether there are any deeper cavities in the mouth.
Tooth decay is common among young children. Poor brushing habits can contribute to cavities, as can a diet with lots of sugar. The kids dentist will treat cavities the same way in which a family dentist would for adults. A filling will take care of most cavities, though larger ones may require a root canal. The dentist will give the child a numbing shot to comfort the patient. The dentist then removes the decay and fills up the tooth, usually with a composite resin or ceramic filling.
Some dentists will provide fluoride treatments for young patients. This is essential for building strong, healthy teeth. Some kids may not get ample fluoride while brushing. The treatment may come in the form of a rinse or customized mouth trays.
To help prevent cavities, young patients may get sealants on their teeth. These are thin plastic coatings that the kids dentist will put on the patient’s teeth. Ordinarily, sealants go on back teeth. The sealants will bond with the depression in teeth to help protect the enamel layer from decay.
Brushing, flossing and eating right will help with your child’s dental care. However, these habits are not enough. Regular checkups with the kids dentist should complement these tasks. When you take your child to visit the dentist, you can feel at ease to know that they are getting good care and treatment. Schedule an appointment today and commit to going back regularly as your child grow.
Request an appointment here: https://www.hvkidsmiles.com or call Hudson Valley Pediatric Dentistry at (845) 363-4177 for an appointment in our Middletown office.
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