Should Your Child’s Teeth Be Polished or Cleaned?

 As parents and professionals we are constantly educating ourselves to make better informed decisions regarding our family’s health.  This year our team has been addressing why so many children in Santa Clarita are seeing a Pedodontist for their dental care.  Although a Pedodontic practice may provide a more “kid friendly” atmosphere, we believe that a Family practice with Registered Dental Hygienists can be a great asset to your child’s dental health.
During a normal Pediatric cleaning appointment the assistant brings in your child, “polishes” their teeth and the Pedodontist performs their examination. In a family dental practice your child is seen by a Registered Dental Hygienist who has spent 4 years learning how to clean teeth and educate your child on dental hygiene.  They scale off the dead bacteria that cannot be “polished” off, perform an oral cancer screening exam, and review brushing, flossing and areas where your child can do better.  Fifty minutes to an hour of time is reserved specifically for your child.  Annually, or more frequently if needed, the dentist will take radiographs and check your child for dental disease. I am frequently amazed at the subgingival bacteria, gingivitis and halitosis, or more commonly known as bad breath, which presents in young children. This is why I feel that there is a great need for a Registered Dental Hygienist to be a part of your child’s dental care.   I was also surprised to learn that the specialty office may charge more for the “polish” than the Registered Dental Hygienist does for a complete scale and polish.
I love my supportive Pedodontists, they are a great asset to treat your young children if sedation is needed to treat many cavities, but the need for complete patient care and a hygiene appointment with a dental hygienist is far preferable to a “polish”.  Some problems we have seen from kids and teens who were solely seen by a Pediatric office include the need for root canals and deep cleanings or Perio Therapy, where the patient needs to be numb to scale to the base of the pocket. Our practice strongly believes in patient education and we believe that with this information our patients can prevent future problems.
The office is located at 27420 Tourney Rd., Suite 270 in Valencia.  For more information, please call 661-255-2545.