We want to help your children enjoy better oral health, so they can smile with confidence and avoid issues like cavities. In addition to our routine checkups and cleanings, we offer preventive treatments to help fight the onset of cavities! In today’s blog, your Lake Orion, MI, dentist talks about our dental sealants and fluoride treatments.
Checkups and Cleanings for Kids
Like you, kids benefit from routine checkups and cleanings every six months, starting at around age two. With regular dental exams, we can keep an eye on their smiles as they grow, so we can identify the early stages of issues like cavities, gingivitis, and developing misalignment, taking action to protect the health and function of their smiles. In addition, these visits have been shown to instill good oral health habits and limit the risk of dental anxiety in adulthood. We also clean the teeth, a process that removes plaque and tartar buildup to keep teeth bright and healthy, fighting bad breath, teeth stains, gingivitis, and more! But we also have two preventive treatments that have been shown to limit the risk of cavities in little smiles.
Dental Sealants
Often, children have trouble reaching the rear teeth when they brush and floss. Which means particles of sugar and starch from their foods and drinks can become trapped there, increasing the risk of tooth decay. But with dental sealants, we will coat these teeth in a thin acrylic layer so no particles can become trapped between the molars. Applying the sealants only takes seconds and kids just need to avoid food and drink for about 30 minutes. The sealants then stay in place for up to ten years to keep little smiles strong and cavity-free. They wear away with time, but can be reapplied as needed.
Fluoride Varnish
During each children’s checkup visit, our team could also apply a special fluoride varnish to the surfaces of the teeth. Fluoride helps strengthen the outer enamel to prevent cavities from forming, and applying it in a varnish form can even strengthen the weakened portions of your child’s teeth. The process only takes a few seconds and as with sealants, kids just need to avoid food and drink for about a half hour. We also recommend they use fluoride in their toothpaste, with kids under three using a rice-sized amount and kids over the age of three using a pea-sized amount.
If you have any questions about pediatric dentistry, then contact our team today!
Talk to Your Lake Orion, MI Dentist’s Office About Pediatric Dentistry
We want to help kids of all ages enjoy their best smiles and understand the importance of good oral hygiene. To schedule an appointment for pediatric dentistry, then call Lake Orion Family Dentistry at (248)693-6213!
