Preventative Care
There are many ways that we use to prevent tooth decay and other dental problems:
- Regular continuing care and professional cleanings: The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry as well as our office recommends that all children receive prophylactic professional cleanings every 6 months. Children and adolescents undergoing orthodontic treatment (braces) should receive professional cleanings every 3 months.
- Digital x-rays: Our ability to take digital x-rays is another method of prevention. With children, not all tooth decay is visible, and x-rays allow us to see areas in between the teeth that cannot be seen or felt clinically. You will be happy to know that by using digital x-rays we help reduce the radiation dosage to our patients by 80%-90%.
- DIAGNOdent: We have made a commitment to using the most advanced technology to maintain your children’s optimum dental heath. DIAGNOdent is one of the newest tools in the market and is proven to detect 90% of tooth decay before it is obvious with traditional methods. We use this technology to provide the most conservative dental treatment and especially for the teeth that we may recommend for sealants (to rule out the possibility of undiagnosed or “hidden” cavities). Please ask our doctors or staff for more information about this wonderful new technology and its uses.
- Fluoride Treatment: Fluoride treatment and fluoridated water have helped children’s teeth become stronger and healthier. We offer fluoride treatment as a part of every continuing care appointment. If you reside in a community that does not have water fluoridation, we also provide age-appropriate recommendations to incorporate fluoride into your children’s diet. In some cases we may provide prescriptions for fluoride supplements to ensure the health of your children’s permanent teeth in the future.
- Sealants: Sealants are another proven method of preventing tooth decay. Sealants work by filling the crevasses on the chewing surfaces of the teeth. This shuts out food particles that could get caught in the teeth and cause cavities. The application is fast and comfortable and can effectively protect teeth for many years to come. We are proud to say that many of our patients take advantage of sealants and experience much fewer cavities on the chewing surfaces of their molars and premolars.
- Home Care: All of our services are especially effective when we have discussed proper oral hygiene practices / diet at home. We ask that parents help children brush and floss their teeth. Parents should begin brushing their child’s teeth as soon as the first tooth comes into the mouth with water and age-appropriate soft bristle toothbrush. As children become 2-3 years of age, parents can begin using fluoridated toothpaste and start flossing children’s teeth as they are beginning to touch. We may also recommend a mouth rinse whenever required.
Please ask us about all of our methods to prevent tooth decay. All aboard for healthy smiles!
