Author: nearmedental
Your kid’s dental health is essential for their overall health. You cannot visit your pediatrician regularly yet neglect the oral health of your kids. Poor oral healthcare in children can lead to severe developmental growth and also cause pain, infections, loss of teeth, and general health issues. Therefore, finding the best dentist near me for kids is crucial for their optimal health.
However, now that you know why dental health is essential, you should also understand the entire process.
Role of a Dentist
A dentist is specifically trained to take care of your teeth. If you are looking for a dentist near me for kids, then you want a pediatric dentist. A regular dental checkup with a pediatric dentist involves a dental examination where the dentist will check the teeth and gums. Along with a checkup, a dentist will also guide you on how to take care of your kid’s teeth at home. It is highly recommended to get a complete dental checkup every 6 months to ensure that there is healthy growth and no infections.
When you visit a dentist near me for kids, you need to make an appointment first. Your kid will be seated on a recliner chair for their checkup. Next to the chair, there is a sink where you need to spit when you are getting dental cleaning done. During the dental examination, your dentist will also check for cavities and plaque.
Teeth Cleaning at a Dentist Near Me for Kids
If your child does not have any dental issues or toothache, then you need to regularly visit a dental hygienist. The dental hygienist will ensure that your kid has healthy teeth and gums after a thorough checkup. After that, the Hygienist will proceed to the cleaning stage.
Your pediatric dentist will then proceed to ensure that all the teeth are growing properly. The process is usually done by shining a giant flashlight into the mouth. If there are any issues, the dentist will use tiny dental tools like a tooth scraper, mirror, and a special toothbrush to clean the teeth.
Usually, kids have plaque buildup in their teeth. Plaque is a thin white layer that coats your teeth and contains bacteria that erodes the teeth over time. The tooth scraper is used by dentists to remove the plaque as it can cause a cavity. After getting rid of the plaque, the dentist will proceed to brush and floss the teeth with the special toothbrush. Even the dentist uses a special toothpaste as well which feels a little grittier like sand.
Do note that you need to ask how to floss your child’s teeth at home when there is no dentist near me for kids. During flossing, you need to put a piece of waxy string to remove the food particles missed during brushing.
Checking for Cavities at Dentist Near Me for Kids
When you take your child for their first dental appointment, a thorough dental exam is conducted by the dentist. Your dentist may take x-rays that show cavities hidden beneath the teeth. The x-ray process hardly takes a few seconds and your child’s chest will be covered by a thick blanket.
After the x-ray, the dentist examines the pictures and checks whether the teeth and gums are healthy or not. The dentist also checks the bite which is the way your top and bottom teeth work together. If there is any specific problem with the bite, then your kid will be referred to an orthodontist. An orthodontist is someone who specializes in correcting the shape and position of the teeth. The orthodontist will examine the teeth and prescribe fluoride drops to take regularly.
Fluoride Treatments
Fluoride is a natural mineral present in our teeth that is very essential to prevent cavities. Before any dental procedure, a fluoride gel is applied to the teeth first. Even though it does not taste very good, nowadays fluoride gels are available in various flavorings like bubblegum. The fluoride treatment takes very little time. You may be advised not to eat or drink anything for the next 30 minutes after the treatment.
Bottom Line
Dental health is very essential for the mental and physical growth of kids. Therefore, you need to lock down a dentist near me for kids very soon. Even if your child has cavities, a good dentist will easily remove the decayed part via special tools. It is important to regularly brush and floss so that dental visits will be less. A good dentist will ensure that your child leaves with a beautiful smile.
