1. Child Comprehensive examination (Checkup)
Your child’s first dental visit should be between 6 months–1-year-old of age or right after their first birthday. It’s important to schedule dental care on a regular basis to lay the foundation of healthy gums and teeth from the start. Routine visits will help identify tooth decay before they start to develop and severely affect your child’s smile.
A comprehensive examination for children includes:
– A thorough ender examination of the teeth, gums, tongue, cheeks, and other oral structure jaws, mouth, head and the neck.
– Look for sores or bumps on the tongue, inside the cheeks and on the top of the mouth.
– Evaluate the overall health, drinking and eating habits to assess the risk of tooth decay.
– A reciprocal, easy to grasp assessment with your child on proper tooth brushing, flossing and general oral hygiene techniques.
– A parent discussion summarizing the best ways to improve your child’s oral health consists of at-home oral hygiene, nutrition and diet tips.
– An evaluation of any growth anomaly in the mouth head or neck or any injuries due to finger-sucking habits and guidance on breaking the habit.
2. Child Prophylaxis (regular cleaning)
Bringing your child to a dentist regularly is necessary, so it’s easier for them to get habituated to dental clinics. Prophylaxis for children means gentle cleaning of teeth and gums, which mostly consists of the removal of yellow stains, dental plaque, and tartar from teeth.
The child prophylaxis treatment includes an electric prophy brush with a special toothpaste. For older children, an ultrasonic scaler is used to remove calculus, for gentle teeth polishing and cleaning to remove the bacterial biofilm. During the cleaning appointment, fluoride varnish application gel is used to strengthen the enamel of the teeth. If fluoride foam is used, the child may be advised not to eat for at least 30 minutes. The fluoride application may feel sticky on the chewing surfaces, hence advised to not brush it off, as the longer it stays as is, the more effective in strengthening the enamel.
Regular prophylaxis cleaning every six months is suggested for children to keep tooth decay and other dental issues at bay.
3. Digital Radiographs(X-ray)
A digital x-ray allows the dentist to evaluate your child’s oral condition in detail. In addition to detecting cavities, it will help to evaluate erupting teeth, diagnose tooth fracture, and/or determine need for future orthodontic treatment.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends radiographs and examinations every six months for children that has higher risk of developing cavities. On average, most patients would receive x rays once a year.
Exposure to radiation from a digital x-ray is almost negligible with the advancement in technology, but you can talk to your dentist if you’re concerned.
4. Sealants
Most cavities (4 out of 5 cavities) occur in back teeth. A dental sealant is a protective layer that is applied to chewing surfaces of back teeth. The sealant acts as a barrier, and prevents plaques, acids and food particles adhering to deep grooves of back teeth.
We suggest it for adults and kids (everyone!) who are at high risk for cavity development.
5. Pulp therapy with tooth colored restoration
The pulp is at the center of the tooth and consists of nerves, tissues, and blood vessels. In children, the pulp damages due to tooth decay or a traumatic injury-causing painful pulp infection and inflammation. So rather than removing the entire tooth, only the pulp is extracted and replaced with a filler that fights bacteria from further damaging the tooth.
Pulp therapy is often referred to as a nerve treatment or children’s root canal.
6. S-S crowns for baby teeth
When a baby tooth is extensively decayed/damaged, and when regular filling won’t be successful, we can restore baby teeth with a stainless-steel crown. After removing the decay, a prefabricated crown is cemented on tooth. It will reinforce baby teeth until the permanent teeth come in to replace them.
7. Sport injury Prevention assistant (Sports guard)
When a child begins to participate in recreational activities and organized sports, injuries can occur. A properly fitted mouth guard, or mouth protector, is an important piece of athletic gear that can help protect your child’s smile and should be used during any activity that could result in a blow to the face or mouth.
Mouth guards help prevent broken teeth, and injuries to the lips, tongue, face or jaw. A properly fitted mouth guard will stay in place while your child is wearing it, making it easy for them to talk and breathe. Ask us about custom sports guard
8. Nitrous oxide Sedation Option for child (laughing gas)
We understand the fear our little patients sometimes experience when they are unsure of what is going to happen next, especially thoughts of apprehension in such an environment.
But for little older children, the child may feel anxious and nervous at a dental clinic.
Therefore, we have several options available to help your child relax.
We offer nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, for kids and adults alike, to help them relax and get over their anxiousness or nervousness about visiting a dental clinic.
