Pediatric Services

Children’s Dental Cleaning

Preventive dental care is essential to maintaining healthy teeth and gums, kids are the most prone to cavities so it is important that they learn at an early age that brushing at least twice day is important for them to have a healthy mouth and a beautiful smile. Kids will be kids; so an important part of good oral hygiene and preventive care is having regular dental cleanings at our office. Dental Cleanings will remove plaque and tartar from your son’s or daughter’s teeth. Routine cleanings for children primarily clean the tooth from the gum line up, and may be concluded with a fluoride treatment.

Tooth Decay and Children

Because of their many bumps and grooves, the chewing surfaces of children’s teeth are highly susceptible to cavities. Debris and resulting bacteria may become lodged between the grooves of a child’s tooth. These grooves (called pits and fissures) may be more problematic for some children than for others.

Toddlers, children in cavity-prone years (aged four to 17) and adults all face the same pit and fissure problem. Premolars and molars have the most pits and fissures, and are difficult for people of any age to reach with a toothbrush or dental floss. However, the application of sealants on the appropriate teeth can help prevent tooth decay for susceptible populations.

Dental Sealants

The dental sealant procedure is usually performed on permanent molar teeth soon after they erupt, and repeated at regular intervals over the years. Since the sealant is gradually lost through natural wear and tear of the teeth, the application must be repeated to remain effective. Sealants can last for many years, but they should be checked regularly (during routine visits to the office and dental cleanings) and assessed for possible re-application.

It is important to note that sealants do not replace fluoride. Rather, they add to the benefits of fluoride, and may preserve teeth so that they do not decay or require more extensive dental procedures later on.

Fluoride Treatments

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that is naturally present in all water sources. It protects against tooth decay at any age. Concentrated fluoride treatments are given to children following their dental cleaning.