Do you have concerns about your child’s dental alignment? We understand, as addressing poor alignment in early childhood can help reduce the amount of time braces or aligners will be need to be worn in the teen and adult years. In today’s blog, your El Paso, TX, dentists take a look at the importance of good alignment for little smiles!
General Exams for Children
We suggest an initial exam for kids at around age one, and routine checkup and cleaning visits starting at age two. These visits should happen every six months. During the exam, your dentist will look at the teeth and gums for common signs of trouble, like cavities, gingivitis, and yes, developing misalignment. From there, we can craft a treatment plan to help protect the teeth from the onset of serious oral health concerns and ensure they enjoy bright and functional smiles. These visits also let us talk to your children about healthy snacking, proper brushing and flossing, and have been shown to reduce dental anxiety in kids and help instill better oral hygiene habits as they grow older!
Addressing Misalignment
What if we find your child does have an issue with dental alignment? If so, then we will refer them to great local and trusted orthodontist for further treatment. We will first make sure they’re ready and healthy enough to begin treatment with braces, retainers, teeth spacers, or aligners. Correcting misalignment has been shown to lower the risks of tooth decay, gum disease, TMJ disorder, and bruxism (teeth grinding) in later years. Better alignment also prevents airway obstructions that could lead to sleep difficulties later in life. Finally, your child will obtain a straighter smile that he or she will be eager to show the world!
In-Office Treatments
Our team also offers in-office treatments to help improve oral health. For example, our team can treat cavities and minor damage with a minimal restoration, which is created from a lifelike composite resin and can be completed in a single visit. If your child needs a visit for a routine checkup and cleaning, then contact our team today. Let’s make sure your little one starts 2020 with his or her best possible smile, and that your child learns a little about their smile in the process.
TALK TO SUNNY SMILES IN EL PASO ABOUT CHILDREN’S DENTISTRY
At Sunny Smiles in El Paso, TX, we want to help children of all ages in our community enjoy beautiful, healthy smiles for many years to come. We have preventive treatments, minimal restorations, and more for kids, teens, and yes, adults and seniors too. If you have questions about our approach to children’s dentistry, then you can reach our East El Paso dental practice on 10039 Dyer St., at 915-859-7000!