When your child visits our office, their appointment will slightly differ from what happens at your own dental appointment. Children, tweens, and teens have different oral health needs as their teeth and gums develop. We will often recommend additional preventative treatment for children at regular visits. Pediatric dental treatment is part of our family dentistry services in our Fayetteville, AR, dental office. Here, we will review what you can expect when your child visits our office every six months.
Routine Visits: Family Dentistry in Fayetteville, AR
As your family dentist, we provide routine care for you and your child. Your child’s visit will typically include:
Dental X-rays
We may not take dental X-rays at every appointment, but we regularly take X-rays to keep track of your child’s developing smile. We also use X-rays to find signs of dental problems that we cannot see with a visual exam. If your child requires orthodontic care or cavity treatment, we can diagnose them and create treatment plans based on their X-rays.
Examination
We will examine your child’s smile before their dental cleaning, using a dental mirror to look for signs of tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth damage. Then, the hygienist will check for tooth cavities and pockets between the teeth and gums.
Dental Cleaning
We will begin to clean the teeth by scraping plaque and tartar from the tooth’s surfaces with a stainless steel dental tool. Plaque and tartar are forms of bacterial buildup that can contribute to cavities and gum disease. Our hygienists will also brush and floss the teeth, removing additional bacterial buildup from the teeth and gums.
Your child can pick from multiple flavored toothpastes during the cleaning. The hygienists may also explain what they are doing in simple terms to your child or ask questions to distract them during the cleaning process.
Preventative Treatments
During your child’s dental cleaning, we can provide a fluoride treatment to help strengthen their tooth enamel and prevent cavities. We will place a fluoride varnish or gel on their teeth as a protective coating. The fluoride must stay on the teeth for thirty minutes before your child can eat or brush their teeth.
Following your child’s dental cleaning, we may also recommend dental sealants. Sealants are protective barriers that we will place on the back teeth or molars. Molars are more susceptible to decay because they can be difficult to clean. Dental sealants will last multiple years and keep protecting the molars from decay.
Education is also an important part of our office. We will help your child understand the best ways to care for their smiles and answer any questions they have at their appointment.
If you have questions or concerns about your child’s dental care, please call Greenway Dental Care at (479) 217-3178. You can also schedule a dental appointment with us for family dentistry services online. We’re dedicated to treating you and your child and ensuring that you stay healthy.