Preventive Care

What to Expect at New Patient Visits

Your child’s first dental visit should take place after the first tooth appears, but no later than the first birthday. Why so early? As soon as your baby has teeth, he or she can get cavities. Being proactive about your child’s dental health today can help keep their smile healthy for life. 

Regardless of age, preparation for a first visit to our clinic is an important part of a successful new patient appointment. To get your child ready for the visit, talk to them about what’s going to happen and be positive. Have your child practice opening their mouth to get them ready for when the dentist counts and checks their teeth. Reading books or watching videos about first dental visits may help your child be less fearful and more confident. Moms and dads can prepare, too. Be sure to provide any pertinent medical information including medications and supplements your child may be taking as well as any allergies. Our team will review medical and dental histories with you and your child during the first appointment. Being prepared with this information allows for a smooth appointment and a more thorough assessment of your child’s specific needs.

Make a list of questions as well. If your child is teething, sucking their thumb, or using a pacifier too much, your dentist can offer some advice.

At your child’s first appointment, the dentist will examine your child to make sure their jaw and teeth are developing in the way they should. During the visit, you will be seated in the dental chair with your child on your lap if your child isn’t able to — or doesn’t want to — sit in the chair alone. The dentist will check for mouth injuries, cavities, or other issues. Once that part of the exam is over, the dentist will clean your child’s teeth and give you tips for daily care. Sometimes, x-rays may be indicated depending on your child’s needs and level of comfort in the office.

If your child cries a little or wiggles during the exam, don’t worry, it’s normal. Your dental team understands this is a new experience for your child!

Here are some other tips for a great first appointment:

Don’t schedule an appointment during naptime. Instead, pick a time your child is usually well-rested and cooperative.

Make sure your child has had a light meal and brushes their teeth before their appointment so they won’t be hungry during their visit.

Save snacks for after the visit so they aren’t on your child’s teeth during the exam.

Think of the appointment as a happy and fun experience. If your child becomes upset during the visit, work with your dentist to calm your child. You’re on the same team!

Dental Cleanings:

Oral prophylaxis, or cleaning, is considered a fundamental part of proper comprehensive oral health care for all patients, including children. The purpose of prophylaxis or cleaning is to remove plaque, staining, and calculus from the teeth. This may be completed by using a manual toothbrush, rotary rubber polishing cup attached to a dental handpiece, scalers, and other necessary dental instruments.

Prophylaxis may entail coronal (crown of tooth) polishing with a toothbrush or rotary rubber cup and dental scaling with hand or ultrasonic instruments. Polishing of the teeth with a toothbrush (and toothpaste) can remove plaque from the surfaces of teeth and is commonly used for demonstration purposes to patients and caregivers and for patients who are unable to tolerate a rotary rubber cup. The rotary rubber cup, with the use of a polishing paste, allows for a more thorough cleaning by removing stains in addition to plaque. Dental scalers can also be used to remove stains and calculus. Depending on the patients' needs, either a handheld scaler or an ultrasonic device may be used. Ultrasonic devices use gentle vibrations and water to remove calculus and stains.

If a patient is unable to tolerate a teeth cleaning in the office due to behavior, medical conditions, or special healthcare needs, the dentist may recommend seeing the patient in the operating room while under general anesthesia to complete all treatment needs. This recommendation may be offered following the dentist’s clinical examination and review of X-rays if obtained during the office visit.

Although teeth cleaning removes plaque and reduces bleeding of the gums for a short period, it is important to maintain a vigilant oral hygiene routine at home. Talk to our team about ways you and your child can improve oral care daily between office visits!

Sealants:

Permanent molars, often referred to as 6-year and 12-year molars due to their average eruption age, have pits or grooves and fissures on the occlusal (chewing) surfaces. These pits and fissures tend to trap food debris and plaque, therefore increasing the risk of developing cavities. Sealants are a preventative course of treatment recommended by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) and the American Dental Association that seals the occlusal surface of permanent molars to prevent cavities from forming.

Dental X-Rays:

Dental X-rays are valuable for diagnostic and treatment planning purposes in proper oral healthcare for infants, children, teens, and individuals with special needs.  X-rays are a form of preventive treatment and allow the dentist to accurately diagnose and monitor oral diseases and cavities, evaluate trauma, and monitor the development of teeth and bones of the jaws. Along with clinical examinations, x-rays help the dentist make an accurate diagnosis and consequent treatment plan for each patient and even allows us to detect potential orthodontic concerns at an early stage to plan for timely intervention. Recommendations for dental x-rays vary as each patient is unique and are based on the patient’s age, extent of need, cooperation, and overall dental or symptom history. Our digital system allows us to monitor your child’s dental growth and detect underlying issues with minimized radiation exposure for your child’s safety.

Fluoride:

Fluoride is commonly used as an aid to prevent and control dental caries (or cavities) and is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AADP) and American Dental Association (ADA). Fluoride treatments provide a protective shield for your child’s teeth which also strengthens the enamel through a process called remineralization. Fluoride provides an added layer of protection for growing teeth during important stages of development.

Children, adolescents, and individuals with special needs are most at risk for cavities due to a variety of factors. This includes, but is not limited to, poor oral hygiene, high consumption of sugar, lack of fluoride consumption through fluoridated community water, and health conditions. In addition, primary or baby teeth also have a thinner enamel layer in comparison to permanent teeth, which makes them more susceptible to cavities.

Oral hygiene care at home, in addition to fluoride, can prevent cavities. Therefore, the AAPD recommends brushing twice daily with over-the-counter fluoridated toothpaste to receive the maximum benefits. Children between the ages of 6 months to 3 years should use a smear of paste on an age-appropriate toothbrush. Children older than 3 years are recommended to use a pea size amount of paste. All children should be supervised while brushing to prevent over-ingestion. Because children are deemed at high risk for cavities, professional fluoride treatment at least every six months is advised. The most common professional form of fluoride treatment used in a dental setting is a topical varnish that is simply brushed onto the teeth. If necessary, a provider may recommend a prescription strength fluoride toothpaste to be used at home. However, this toothpaste should only be prescribed and used by children over the age of 6 and must be supervised by a responsible adult.