Dental prevention is just as important for children as it is for adults. Having a child start going to the dentist at an early age and regularly is a very important step in a lifetime of preventative dentistry. A typical program for children contains many steps, both in and out of the dental office.
These steps include:
1. Brushing, flossing and oral habits.
2. Application of fluorides and sealants.
3. Monitoring the child’s dental development.
4. Sports safety.
5. Parent involvement and proper diet.
A healthy smile in a child can be maintained using preventative dentistry. Children with healthy teeth chew their food properly, and learn to talk more clearly and quickly. Preventative dentistry also minimizes future costly and extensive dental treatment for your child.
During your child’s visit to the dentist, his or her teeth will be carefully examined and any dental issues diagnosed and treated. If necessary, the dentist will apply fluoride treatment and dental sealants to help protect the teeth from tooth decay. The dentist will also address any orthodontics concerns.
Tooth cleaning, fluoride and polishing are just a few parts of an entire prevention program for children. A pediatric dentist will also provide the application of dental sealants where necessary to protect children’s teeth from decay, custom fit mouth guards to protect the teeth and mouth when playing in sports, and monitor your child’s dental development as she or he grows. A pediatric dentist is specifically trained to create a combination of home and office preventative care to make sure a child maintains a healthy, happy smile.