For many families, kids will be heading back to school very soon. While you are out shopping for school supplies and clothes, don’t forget about their teeth! Now is the perfect time to see Dr. James Stewart, DDS, PC and our Livonia, MI, team for your child’s back-to-school appointment.
Dental Exams for Little Smiles
When was the last time your child had a checkup visit? We recommend one for children of all ages every six months, and now is a great time to schedule one for back-to-school. With a checkup, we closely examine the teeth, gums, and interior structures with digital x-rays and intraoral camera, so we can assess the state of the smile and catch possible problems in their earliest stages. If we find issues like tooth decay, then we can offer fillings to treat it and ensure kids avoid toothaches and infections during the school year. This visit helps ensure kids better understand their own smiles and the importance of caring for them, and can limit the risk of dental anxiety later in life.
Cleaning Your Child’s Teeth
In addition to an exam, we also take time to clean the teeth. With a dental cleaning, our team will gently and thoroughly remove all plaque and tartar from the surfaces of the smile. This takes only a few minutes, and helps limit the risk of bad breath, teeth stains, and cavities. For older kids, this can also limit the risk of gingivitis. Once we remove all plaque and tartar, we will polish the teeth, which helps limit the ability for buildup to occur before we see your kids again in six months.
Preventing Tooth Decay
Our approach to children’s dentistry also includes treatment that can limit the risk of cavities. For example, following the cleaning portion of your visit, we could apply a special fluoride varnish to the surfaces of the teeth. This then strengthens the outer enamel to prevent the onset of cavities. Kids should also use a fluoride toothpaste for the same reason.
Since kids have trouble reaching the molars, we can coat these rear teeth with a dental sealant, a special acrylic lawyer that prevents food and drink particles from being caught between them. The procedure takes seconds to complete, and these layers can stay in place for years to come! If you have any questions about children’s dentistry, or if you want to schedule a back-to-school checkup and cleaning for your child, then reach out to our team today to learn more and get started.
Schedule Your Child’s Visit With Dr. Stewart, DDS
We want to help protect little smiles from cavities, so schedule a checkup and cleaning today to help your children start a new school year with their best smile. To learn more about children’s dentistry, call Dr. Stewart, D.D.S., P.C. in Livonia, MI at 734-425-4400.