Children need to see the dentist for regular care, as this helps keep serious issues like tooth decay at bay. Not only do we offer fillings that are safe for kids and stop tooth decay, but we have preventive treatments to help them avoid cavities altogether. In today’s blog, your Lake Orion, MI, dentist talks about children’s dentistry.
Taking a Holistic Approach
Our team believes in taking a holistic approach to dental care, which means using treatments to help prevent the onset of oral health issues and keep smiles strong. Also, we don’t use metal in our fillings and crowns. While effective, these can contain trace amounts of mercury, and change shape with time to increase the risk of further decay or reinfection. Instead, we offer treatment for all ages with biocompatible and metal-free solutions, which can bond with your smile and offer durable and long-lasting improvement for all ages.
Dental Fillings
If your little one complains about an aching tooth and we find a cavity, we can offer treatment in one visit with a dental filling. The restoration contains no metal, instead we use composite resin, which is a blend of glass-like and acrylic-like particles that we can shade to better blend with the smile. The material also bonds with the tooth to offer restoration that truly lasts. Remember, even baby teeth need attention because the cavity could form months or even years before the tooth would fall out naturally, so care prevents painful symptoms, infections, and premature tooth loss. Along with fillings, we also offer custom and lifelike crowns too!
Dental Sealants
Kids often have difficulty reaching the rear teeth whenever they brush and floss. Which means food and drink particles can become trapped between the molars, where bacteria can break them down, creating plaque buildup and a greater risk of cavities. But we can cover these molars with dental sealants, a thin layer of acrylic that prevents food and drink particles from being trapped there. This prevents cavities from forming there. The application only takes a few seconds and kids just need to avoid food and drink for about 30 minutes. They can stay in place for up to ten years in some cases!
Fluoride Treatments
We can also strengthen the outer enamel of the teeth to make childhood cavities less likely. During each of your child’s checkup and cleaning visits, we will apply fluoride in a varnish form to the teeth. This strengthens the enamel, even the weakened portions, so cavities are less likely to form. The process takes seconds, and like with sealants, kids just need to avoid food and drink for about a half hour. In addition, kids also need to use a fluoride toothpaste when they brush and floss. Kids three and younger need a rice sized amount, while kids three and older should use a pea sized amount. Encourage them to drink plenty of water too! Your local tap water not only hydrates, but likely has fluoride to help lower the risk of tooth decay.
Checkups and Cleanings
Kids need to see our team every six months staring at around age two. The checkup involves our team carefully examining the smile with advanced and safe digital imaging technology, which uses less radiation and provides images instantly chairside, so kids spend less time in the chair. The exam allows us to monitor the smile and catch problems in the early stages, such as premature tooth loss, cavities, and gingivitis. In the same sitting, we can help safeguard the teeth with a dental cleaning, in which we remove all plaque and tartar buildup from the surfaces of the teeth with an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual tool. The procedure can help lower the risk of tooth decay and infection, and also fights bad breath and teeth stains. We have the chance to instill good oral health habits, so kids know how to protect their smiles in between office visits, and the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene too. This makes them less vulnerable to dental anxiety and more likely to continue seeing the dentist on their own as adults.
If you have any questions about how our team will protect your child’s smile with children’s dentistry, or if you would like to schedule a visit for them, then contact our team today.
Talk to Your Lake Orion, MI Dentist’s Office About Children’s Dentistry
Our team wants to help your little ones enjoy strong, healthy, and bright smiles. To schedule an appointment for children’s treatment, call Lake Orion Family Dentistry at (248)693-6213!
