Why Take Your Kids to Chandler Dentist Kyrene Family Dentistry?
Pediatric Dentistry
At Kyrene Family Dentistry, we care about your child’s dental health. A child’s oral health is an essential part of their overall health and wellness. Making Kyrene Family Dentistry your children’s go-to dental home allows us to provide preventive oral hygiene care from their earliest days. Care that will help keep your children free from dental and oral diseases.
Children have different dental needs and different personalities. Some may be compliant, and some may be challenging. At Kyrene Family Dentistry, we know how to communicate with children in a way that makes them feel at ease and comfortable. They will learn that a visit to the dentist isn’t something to dread – it can even be fun!
Teach your children
Kids play an important role in preventive dentistry. Teaching and encouraging them to practice twice-daily brushing and daily flossing are essential in ensuring their teeth and mouth stay healthy. A consistent oral hygiene routine helps keep their teeth clean between preventative dental care appointments.
Lack of regular home care can lead to dental disease, causing a painful and unsightly mouth. This can interfere with daily functions such as eating, sleeping, and making friends. A healthy smile boosts the child’s morale, enhances self-esteem, and is a part of their total well-being.
Regular dental exams
Whether they are adults or children, everyone should have regular oral exams at least twice a year. When children, as some often do, neglect regular brushing and flossing, they particularly need to have regular dental exams. In that case, you may want to schedule visits with your Chandler dentist more often, such as every three months. More appointments can also help keep an eye on any developing problems.
Ensuring your child has regular preventive dentistry will keep them from needing more extensive and more expensive treatment in the future for any dental conditions that may develop.
Your child’s first oral exam
If your child has yet to be seen by a Chandler dentist, we highly recommend that you schedule an appointment with us. Your kid’s first visit to Kyrene Family Dentistry should be by the age of 12 months of age, or within six months of their first tooth erupting.
The first dental visit will help your child feel comfortable going to a dentist and typically lasts 30 to 45 minutes. Depending on their age, the dental visit will consist of a complete exam of their teeth, jaws, bite, gums, and oral tissues.
If needed, a Kyrene Family hygienist will clean and polish your child’s teeth to remove plaque, film, and tartar. Plaque and tartar are major causes of tooth decay and gum disease. Our hygienist will also give instructions on proper flossing and brushing to ensure your child gets started early on dental hygiene.
X-rays
Depending on your child’s age, our Chandler dentist may recommend X-rays to locate disease and cavities that the naked eye can’t see. Generally, very young children don’t need to have X-rays. A child’s first dental x-ray is usually at the age of 5 or 6. However, if they have a high risk for tooth decay or limited tooth space, they may need to have x-rays taken earlier.
Fluoride Treatments
Fluoride treatment strengthens the mineral element of teeth, making them stronger and less vulnerable to acid and cavities. Fluoride treatments for your child can be once a year or as needed during their regularly scheduled dental exam and cleaning. Early exposure to fluoride can help ensure newly developing permanent teeth have a lifetime of good dental health.
Common oral conditions affecting children and the treatment
Cavities – Early childhood caries (ECC) are the most common dental condition affecting children. Due to lack of regular care and a love of sweets, kids of all ages often have tooth decay or cavities, also called dental caries.
According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, 42% of children ages 2 to 11 have had dental caries in their primary teeth. 23% of children ages 2 to 11 have untreated cavities. That is a lot, and any parent should want to have their kids examined and be given preventive treatment.
Preventive treatments for dental caries include fluoride treatment that strengthens the minerals in the teeth, so they are less vulnerable to acid and cavities. Sealants can be applied to the teeth’ chewing surfaces, also protecting against acid and caries.
Gum diseases – Kids can also have gingivitis (usually mild), a condition that causes non-destructive inflammation of the gums. Chronic gingivitis is common in children. It can become pediatric periodontal disease in advanced stages, which can severely damage the gums, jawbone, and surrounding tissues.
A procedure known as scaling and root planing remove tartar and bacteria from tooth surfaces and beneath your kids’ gums. Gingivitis will usually clear up after scaling and root planing and thorough cleaning as long as your child continues good oral hygiene at home.
Dental erosion/Enamel erosion – Tooth enamel, the thin outer covering of the tooth, protecting the sensitive dentine underneath, is the hardest tissue in the human body. As hard as it is, enamel is susceptible to erosion by acid without the involvement of bacteria.
Erosion is highest in children between the ages of 9 and 11 but does not always need treatment. With regular check-ups, we can prevent your child’s erosion from going any further. If a tooth does need treatment and the erosion area is small, a composite resin filling can be used. For larger areas of erosion, we may need to fit a veneer.
Craniofacial anomalies – cleft lip and palate – The most common of all congenital disabilities in children are cleft lip and cleft palate. The condition requires multidisciplinary care, of which pediatric dentistry has a vital role in preventive, restorative, or interventional care. The many dental problems include everything from missing teeth to supernumerary teeth. Children with clefts can be treated with orthodontics (braces) to straighten crowded, misplaced, and rotated teeth.
Make an appointment today!
Call Kyrene Family Dentistry now, and let’s get your kids on the path to having great oral health and a brighter and better-looking smile. Call 480-470-4759 or contact us here.
