Preventive dentistry is essential for maintaining and protecting your child’s oral health. With regular checkups, proper diet, and preventive care from our team, you can avoid common issues like cavities and gum disease entirely, monitor your child’s oral development, and ensure they have a clean bill of health. Learn more below, or contact us now to schedule an appointment in Durham at Smile First Dentist.
Dental sealants are a great way to fight back against cavities. They use a special type of liquid resin. This resin is applied to your child’s rear teeth and then hardened with UV light. This creates a strong barrier that prevents the formation of cavities.
Six-month teeth cleanings and oral exams are essential for your child’s oral health. Here’s what you can expect from their appointment at Smile First Dentist.
We typically take x-rays yearly, or whenever your doctor believes they are necessary. Our Durham team will only take x-rays with your approval.
After your child’s x-ray, one of our dental hygienists will gently scrape away plaque and tartar from your child’s teeth, brush and polish their teeth, and floss their teeth to leave them clean and sparkling.
We will examine your child’s mouth to look for signs of common oral health issues like gum disease and cavities, discuss her findings with you, and talk about any follow-ups your child may need.
Fluoride treatments use a fluoride-rich “varnish” that’s painted onto your child’s teeth after their six-month oral exam. This fluoride helps attract minerals to your child’s teeth, strengthening them and preventing cavities from forming. This is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect your child’s oral health.
Athletic mouth guards are essential for protecting your child’s mouth when they play contact sports, and during hobbies like skateboarding or mountain biking. Custom mouth guards are very comfortable, and help protect and cushion your child’s teeth and gums if they experience a blow to their mouth. They are highly effective at preventing emergency dental issues like broken, cracked, loose, or knocked-out teeth.
Teeth grinding is quite common among kids, and can lead to damage to their teeth and issues like TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) if it’s left unaddressed. If your child grinds their teeth regularly, a night guard may be recommended to help with this issue. Night guards are custom-fitted to your child’s mouth. They are made of a hard outer layer of plastic and a soft inner layer of plastic. They usually cover the upper teeth, and protect them from direct tooth-to-tooth contact. This helps prevent tooth damage from grinding.
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