Essential Preventive Dental Treatment for Kids

Preventive dental care is an essential part of your child's dental care. It is aimed at preventing or treating dental problems before they occur. A routine dental visit helps detect dental problems in their initial stages when it's easy to treat them. 

The American Dental Association recommends that children visit the dentist for their first visit within six months of the eruption of their first tooth or by their first birthday. This visit will establish their oral health baseline and allow for prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment.

At Christensen Dental, we provide preventive dental treatments to help keep your child's teeth, gums, and mouth healthy.

What Are the Benefits of Preventive Dental Treatment for Kids?

• Prevent cavities. Cavities are caused by the bacteria in the mouth. Therefore, it is essential to prevent tooth decay by removing the bacteria from the mouth. 
• Prevent tooth loss. If cavities are left untreated, they can lead to tooth loss. With early detection of cavities and subsequent treatment, you can save your child's teeth and prevent tooth loss.
• Prevent bad breath. A major cause of bad breath is the accumulation of bacteria in the mouth. Early treatment will help prevent bad breath in children.
• Help build confidence in children by keeping their smiles healthy and bright. 
• Encourage good oral hygiene habits in your child. 
• Help reduce the risk of getting gum disease in children.
• Treat sensitive teeth and improve their condition. 
• Provide other treatments such as sealants, fluoride application, etc., as per your child's requirement. 

What Are the Procedures Involved in Preventive Dental Treatments for Kids?

At Christensen Dental, we provide several types of preventive dental treatments for kids that include:

• Dental Cleaning 

A dental cleaning removes plaque and tartar buildup from the surface of teeth, helping to keep cavities and gum disease at bay. Regular dental cleaning will also help your child get used to going to the dentist's office. 

• Dental X-Rays 

Dental x-rays are used to detect issues such as cavities, cysts, infections, teeth discoloration, impacted teeth, jawbone deterioration, etc., at an early stage. They also help us get a better view of the oral cavity to make a more accurate diagnosis. 

• Dental Sealants 

Dental sealants are one of the essential preventive dental treatments for kids. They protect the teeth from decay and damage by sealing over the deep grooves in the enamel. This prevents food particles and bacteria from getting stuck in the teeth and causing cavities. 

• Fluoride Treatments 

Fluoride treatment is done to replenish the level of fluoride present in the enamel to strengthen it against cavities and abrasion caused due to chewing food and beverages. The treatments are often recommended for children, but they can be beneficial for adults as well. 

• Tooth-Colored Fillings 

Tooth-colored fillings are made from ceramics or composite resin that match the appearance of your child's natural teeth perfectly and are used to fill cavities caused due to tooth decay or injury. 

• Orthodontic Treatment for Children 

Besides correcting alignment issues that make teeth crooked, orthodontic treatment can help your child avoid tooth decay and gum disease. Because it's easier to clean straight teeth, your child will be less likely to develop decay or gum disease. Orthodontics can also help with jaw pain, speech impediments, and chewing and eating difficulties.

At Christensen Dental, we also offer orthodontic treatments for children with habits such as thumb sucking or pacifier use that can affect their oral health over time. We screen children for proper growth of their jaws, which helps them avoid overcrowded teeth or spacing issues in the future while also treating their bad habits at an early stage.  

• Tooth Development Monitoring

Children's health and development should be monitored frequently by a dentist. This can help catch issues before they become complicated, painful, or costly to treat.

• Sports guards/ Athletic Mouthguards

If your child plays sports, we recommend that their smile is protected with a custom athletic mouthguard to prevent broken or knocked out teeth.