Cleaning
Typically, at the beginning of the appointment, a dental hygienist will perform a thorough dental cleaning on your child's teeth. This process is the same on primary ("baby") teeth and adult teeth.
The cleaning will include scaling to remove any tartar build-up, a professional flossing, and polishing.
Check-up
Dental appointments include physical examination of the teeth, gums, jaw, and interior of the mouth's health. They will be looking for signs of problems like gingivitis, tooth decay, oral abnormalities, and misalignment.
X-Rays
To help find problems that are not visible to the naked eye, the dentist or hygienist will occasionally perform an X-ray on your child’s teeth.
The dentist will only perform an X-ray when necessary. Their frequency depends on a variety of factors, such as your child’s general oral health, risk for dental disease, and stage of oral development.
Fluoride
Fluoride is a natural mineral found in soil and some water sources, and it is also crucial to oral health and development. Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel and makes your child's teeth at lesser risk of decay. It may even reverse decay that has already begun to develop in some cases.
Getting enough fluoride is important for everyone, but especially for children because their teeth are still growing and developing.
During your child’s dental appointment, your dentist will discuss your child’s fluoride needs with you, and together you'll settle on a course of fluoride delivery. This may include in-office fluoride treatments, or fluoride products like toothpaste and mouthwash.
Tips & Techniques
If your child is old enough to understand, your dentist or dental hygienist will conclude the appointment by going over some at-home care practices to keep their smile in tip-top shape!
This will include tips and advice on proper brushing and flossing techniques, oral health-friendly dietary information, and much more.
They will also be happy to address any questions or concerns you have about your child’s oral health.
Follow-Up Appointment Scheduling
If your child has a cavity or other oral health problem, our administration team will book a follow-up appointment to monitor or treat it. You can book this appointment at our office, or call us any time.