When Kids Need to See The Dentist
Starting at age one, once the first baby tooth erupts, we recommend a simple wellness exam for your children. Once they reach age two, they should begin to undergo routine dental exams and cleanings every six months. These visits allow us to talk to them about their smiles and enable them to become accustomed to the office, so they’re less likely to develop dental anxiety down the road. We will watch for the issues that tend to impact little smiles, such as tooth decay.
Checkups and Cleanings
With the exam, we will use digital x-rays to make a thorough checkup with precision and accuracy, so we can address them early, often before your little one develops uncomfortable symptoms. We then create a personalized plan to address the concerns and return little smiles to optimal health and beauty. Kids also come away with a better understanding of the importance of good oral hygiene, and they may be more likely to continue care when they reach adulthood. In the same visit as the exam, we will also clean the teeth. A dental cleaning involves removing all plaque and tartar buildup from the smile with an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual tool. This helps fight bad breath and stained teeth, and also prevent issues like gingivitis.
Preventive Treatment Options
Our team wants to help protect little smiles from issues like tooth decay. During their checkup and cleaning visits, we can apply a fluoride varnish to the surfaces of the teeth, which helps strengthen the outer enamel to prevent cavities from occurring. This is also why we recommend kids us a fluoride toothpaste when they brush, a rice sized amount for those three and younger and a pea-sized amount for everyone over the age of three.
With dental sealants, we provide an acrylic coating to the rear teeth, which are hard for kids to reach when they brush and floss. The sealants can stay in place for years to come, projecting the smile from cavities. If you have any questions about how we protect little smiles, or if you would like to schedule the first checkup and cleaning appointment of 2024, then please reach out to our team today.
Talk To Your Albany, NY Dentist About Children’s Dentistry!
Our team wants to help you and your little ones enjoy optimal oral health and strong smiles for years to come. If you would like to learn more about pediatric dental care, please call our Albany, NY dental office today at (518) 869-5397.