Preventative Care
Your child’s dental health is very important. We hope to help set them on the path towards a lifetime of optimal health and great dental experiences!
Establishing a trusting & a positive dental relationship is the foundation leading to a lifetime of oral health. When their first teeth arrive, it’s important for patients and their grownups to learn how to care for their teeth to prevent oral disease. Regular check-ups create trust & familiarity. If ever treatment is needed, your child will already feel comfortable. There are many preventative measures which can limit the advancement of oral disease if caught early.
Why preventative dental care?
For Children 6 months to 1 year old
These visits are for grown-ups as much as they are for our little patients! Dr. Sam & her team will spend time on anticipatory guidance concerning oral habits (thumbs/pacifier, etc), oral hygiene, diet and ways to look out for tooth traumas!
Depending on concerns, your little one’s comfort and the results of a screening questionnaire we will either complete their very first check-up or let their first visit be a “meet and greet”, and educational experience and plan for the full exam soon after.
For Toddlers up through Kids & Teens
As your child grows, we continue to gain their trust & confidence. They’ll be sitting in the big chair all by themselves before you know it! These preventative visits include thorough dental cleanings, necessary x-rays, growth and development monitoring and possibly fluoride. We encourage good oral hygiene at home, provide tips & tricks for improving oral hygiene when necessary and complete a thorough exam checking for any issues.
Dr. Sam wants to make sure you have all of the age and developmentally appropriate guidance for your child, she’s happy to answer any questions or concerns at these visits and will likely make recommendations for preventative or treatment measures.
Preventative Dentistry
Cleaning and Exam
We will gently remove any plaque or calculus build-up on your child’s teeth, assess hygiene practices and carefully check on the overall health of your child’s head, neck, oral cavity and teeth. This is the time preventative or treatment recommendations will be made.
Fluoride
Fluoride varnish application is recommended 2-4 times a year dependent on a patient’s risk for cavities. Application has been demonstrated to decrease the patient’s risk of getting cavities.
Digital X-Rays
Dr. Sam cannot diagnose what she cannot see. Using well-established criteria, she will prescribe radiographs only as needed. We use digital sensors and hand-held machines which keeps radiation dosage to the lowest possible.
Oral Cancer Screen
Thankfully rare in children, an oral cancer screening is completed as part of a thorough dental exam. Any unusual findings will be documented and referred for further evaluation if necessary.
Sealants
Sealants are an excellent intervention recommended for all permanent molars and some at-risk primary molars. They prevent the impaction of food and bacteria into the grooves of teeth and decrease the risk of cavities forming by up to 90%.
Growth & Development
Everyone develops at their own pace; there are guidelines and norms that Dr. Sam has in-depth knowledge of; she will help determine when orthodontic treatment or evaluation is necessary as well as identify if any development is out of the typical range.
SDF
Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) is a liquid that permeates into a tooth where a cavity exists and stops its growth. While the lesion can re-activate, this is an excellent tool to slow the growth of a cavity until the patient can tolerate traditional treatment.
Hygiene Instruction
Oral hygiene can be complex, particularly when you’re just starting. Dr. Sam and her team will help identify if your child is ready to brushindependently or if they need help for a bit longer to be as successful as they can be.
