Our team provides holistic and metal-free dental work for patients of all ages. In fact, we also provide treatments to help kids avoid tooth decay and maintain good oral health. In today’s blog, your Lake Orion, MI, dentist talks about how we safeguard little smiles with children’s dentistry!
Checkups and Cleanings
Kids need to see our team for a routine checkup, just like adults do! We want to see kids every six months starting at age two, so we can monitor their teeth and make sure baby teeth erupt and fall out on time, and that permanent teeth have a clear path to eruption, as this can prevent issues like misalignment. We also watch for tooth decay, as treating cavities in one visit with a metal-free filling can stop the decay and prevent infection that could threaten tooth stability. Our team can also discuss better oral hygiene habits and help children understand why caring for their teeth is so valuable. They may be less likely to have dental anxiety as a result, and may be more likely to continue seeing routine dental care on their own as adults.
In the same visit, we also take time to clean the teeth! With an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual tool, we can help remove all plaque and tartar to fight bad breath, stained teeth, cavities, and even gingivitis in older teen patients. We then polish the teeth to keep the smile bright and to limit buildup in the months to come.
Fluoride and Sealants
Our team also offers two different procedures to help limit cavities in little smiles. As part of your routine six-month checkup, our team can apply fluoride to the teeth in a varnish form. This naturally-occurring mineral then helps strengthen the outer enamel to keep teeth strong and prevent issues like tooth decay. Applying this only takes a few seconds and kids just need to avoid food and drink for about a half hour as the material cures. We also suggest kids use a small amount of fluoride toothpaste too, as this helps further strengthen enamel.
We also have dental sealants, which we used to protect the rear teeth. Kids often have trouble reaching the molars when they brush and floss, so food and drink particles can remain stuck there, and the risk of cavities forming between these teeth can increase with time. But with dental sealants, we dry these teeth and apply a thin acrylic layer to them, which coats the teeth so nothing can remain stuck between the molars. The risk of a cavity stops, and the layer can stay in place for years to come, as long as ten in some cases. Kids also needs to avoid food and drink for about a half hour after the application to ensure the material cures fully. We can re-apply the sealants in the future as needed.
Metal-Free Dental Work
What if we find a cavity in your child’s smile? If this happens, even in a baby tooth, we recommend treatment, as the tooth could fall out on its own in the months or even years to come, and ignoring the decay allows an infection to form that could threaten the smile. With metal-free fillings, we have a safe and holistic option that blends with the smile too, and takes only one visit to apply. If your child has more severe decay or possibly a damaged tooth, we could create custom crowns that look natural and safeguard the smile. Composite resin, the same material we use in our fillings, could also be used to repair minor damage or improve esthetics in the smile, so your little one can enjoy relief from damage and erosion, and enjoy an improved appearance in the smile too.
If you have any questions about how we help smiles with pediatric dentistry, or if you would like to schedule a visit with our team for an exam and cleaning, then reach out to our team today. We want to also take time to talk to parents about better brushing and flossing habits, and improved snack options, so your whole family can enjoy better oral health and feel confident in their smiles. Don’t delay, talk to our team today about boosting smiles for the whole family!
Lake Orion Family Dentistry Helps Little Smiles Too
Our team wants to ensure your entire family can enjoy good oral health and holistic treatment, even for the youngest members of your family. To find out more about our approach to children’s dentistry or to schedule an appointment, call Lake Orion Family Dentistry in Lake Orion, MI at (248)693-6213.
