It’s the beginning of the year, and we are all organizing our schedules. Our children take top priority! It is the perfect time to get their teeth cleaned and examined. We have noticed that there are a lot of questions regarding children’s dental care. Let’s see if we can answer them.
• A child’s first dental appointment should be between 1 to 2 years old. This first appointment should be easy and fun! We show them our “Mr. Slurpy” straw, tooth mirror, squirt gun, and count their teeth. The goal is to make this a stress-free visit where they leave with a positive feeling of accomplishment.
• Exams and cleaning should be every six months to evaluate for decay and get reinforcement on their brushing skills.
• If a permanent tooth is traumatically extracted or fractured, place it in a glass of milk and see us within two hours.
• An Orthodontic evaluation needs to be done for your child by age 6. The early years can identify speech problems or habits that can easily be corrected. Early Orthodontics can widen the upper arch to improve breathing and give room for the teeth to erupt without the need for extractions. If your child needs and hasn’t started braces by age 11, it isn’t too late, but we are working against the natural growth pattern and denseness of the bone. Less than 10 percent of children should go without braces. It is a great lifetime investment in their teeth function and smile! Look into Teen Invisalign as the newest option.
• An evaluation for wisdom teeth removal is usually between 14 to 18 years old. At the latest, have them out by 24 years old.
• Fluoride treatments strengthen surface enamel and leave it resistant to decay. An effective holistic option is calcium phosphate.
• Preventative Posterior Resins or sealants last for 10 years and protect the pits and fissures from decay. These can be placed as soon as the six-year molars are completely erupted.
• If your child has a cavity, micro-air abrasion is a tiny sandblaster that conservatively removes decay without the need for numbness.
The dental health education your child receives at their dentist appointment can help them set healthy eating habits, and learn to care for their teeth to prepare them for a lifetime of healthy teeth.
For more information, please call 661-255-2545.