When was the last time you brought your little one in for a visit? Kids need checkups and cleanings, and other preventive treatments, to help reduce the risk of cavities and other serious oral health issues. In today’s blog, your El Paso, TX, dentist talks about helping kids in our community enjoy optimal oral health.
Checkups and Cleanings for Little Smiles
First, we want to keep an eye on their smiles as they grow with regular checkup and cleaning visits every six months. During these visits, we will conduct an examination with digital x-rays and intraoral cameras, so we can diagnose their smiles with precision and accuracy. We then create a treatment plan to address the concerns we discover and protect their oral health. During the exams, we often watch for cavities, gingivitis, and issues that could cause misalignment to occur without intervention, such as baby teeth falling out too soon or problems with the eruption of the permanent teeth.
During the same visit, we also clean the teeth. A dental cleaning involves removing all harmful plaque and tartar from the surfaces of the teeth with an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual tool. We then polish the teeth to keep them bright.
Fluoride and Dental Sealants
Our team could also offer preventive treatments to help lower the risk of tooth decay. For example, during each six month visit we can apply a topical fluoride gel to the surfaces of the teeth. This naturally occurring mineral helps strengthen the outer enamel to prevent erosion and tooth decay. We could also apply a then acrylic layer known as dental sealants to the molars. These rear teeth are often difficult for kids to reach and clean when they brush and floss, leaving them at risk for cavities. However, with sealants nothing can become stuck on or between these teeth, and the layers can stay in place for up to ten years in some cases.
Lifelike Restorations
What if we discover a cavity or an infection, or what if your child has a damaged tooth? We could use lifelike composite resin, which we shade to match the tooth, in filling and bonding procedures to treat cavities or repair damage in one visit. Our team can also fabricate natural looking crowns as well! If you have any questions about our approach to children’s dentistry, then contact our team today to learn more.
TALK TO SUNNY SMILES IN EL PASO, TX, ABOUT CHILDREN’S DENTISTRY
We would like to help your kids maintain bright and healthy smiles for years to come. If you’re ready to schedule a visit and protect your child’s oral health, then contact our Sunny Smiles location on N Zaragoza Rd in El Paso, TX at 915-849-9000.