A Head Start on a Healthy Smile
When it comes to maintaining a healthy smile, preventing oral health issues is always better than having to treat them. Therefore, teaching children early how to properly care for their smiles is one of the most impactful gifts you can give them. While many aspects of children’s dentistry are similar to general family dentistry, others are specific to the fact that children are younger and less acquainted with good dental health practices. At our office, we have extensive experience in optimizing children’s dental health, as well as making them feel comfortable and at-ease while visiting the dentist.
Early and routine dental visits
Children don’t require routine dental care until most or all of their primary teeth have grown in. However, we recommend bringing them in by their first birthday, or shortly after the first tooth appears, for an initial “happy” visit. During this visit, we’ll briefly check the tooth and dental ridges and offer tips on how to keep your child’s mouth clean and healthy during teething. After the age of three, we advise beginning a routine schedule of checkup and cleaning appointments at least twice a year. Because we’re a full family dental office, you can usually schedule your child’s and your checkup and cleaning appointments on the same day.
Preventive and restorative treatments
- Fluoride treatments – During your child’s routine exam, we may notice weak areas of tooth enamel, where oral bacteria and acids have eroded the protective layer around your child’s teeth. Fluoride treatment is a safe and effective way to strengthen weak tooth enamel and reduce your child’s risks of developing a cavity.
- Dental sealants – While fluoride treatment can help strengthen your child’s tooth enamel, dental sealants can prevent oral bacteria and food particles from ever reaching it in the first place. Sealants are layers of biocompatible acrylic that are painted onto teeth’s chewing surfaces, preventing plaque from building up between the crevices.
- Biocompatible fillings – If your child develops a cavity, then restoring the tooth and preserving it will be top priorities. In many cases, we can recommend biocompatible tooth fillings made from composite resin to stop the cavity from growing and restore the tooth’s health and integrity.
Make an appointment for your child
Children’s smiles face a few unique concerns that take a caring, compassionate, and highly skilled team to effectively address. To learn more, schedule a consultation at Healthy Smiles Family Dentistry in Houston, TX, today by calling (281) 974-4494.