Cleanings, X-rays & Sealants

Cleanings

Routine dental cleanings are the heart of what we do and the first step towards building a foundation of good oral hygiene. Following the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) guidelines, your child should visit the dentist every 6 months or sooner, depending on their individual dental health needs.

A child’s first dental appointment should be scheduled at the eruption of their first tooth or by their first birthday, whichever comes first. This appointment is designed to move at your child’s pace and is dictated by their comfort level.

We understand that your child may not be comfortable with all of the services recommended during a routine cleaning appointment, and that’s ok! Our doctors, hygienists, and staff strive to connect with your child, and to achieve a level of trust and security that will last a lifetime. In future appointments, we know there will be an established relationship that allows us to carry out all necessary procedures.

X-rays

Digital films of your child’s teeth help the doctor to determine if there is anything going on inside the tooth that needs addressed or noted. When X-rays are taken, we are not just looking for cavities or decay, but also any missing teeth, extra teeth, teeth that may be fused, or other abnormal pathology.

Rest assured that when we take X-rays, we use state of the art digital films, which reduce the risk and exposure to your child. In fact, your child receives more radiation playing outside for 20 minutes than they do when they receive their routine dental X-rays.

Fluoride

Fluoride plays an important role in the dental health of your child’s teeth. We value the benefits of fluoride and fluoride varnish, and we have seen these benefits in many of our patients. The AAPD recommends that those children who have a moderate or high risk for developing cavities take advantage of fluoride.

It’s common for parents to have questions about the use of fluoride, and we welcome them! It’s very important that you and your child feel comfortable with the care received in our practice.

For special circumstances, we also use silver diamine fluoride to help stop tooth decay. To learn more go to What Is Silver Diamine Fluoride?

Dental sealants

Dental sealants help protect the deep pits and grooves that naturally occur in teeth. In addition to brushing and flossing, sealants are another line of defense we have available to keep teeth healthy. We offer fissure sealants to all of our patients who need them to help prevent decay.

We believe so strongly in the value of sealants that we will maintain your child’s sealant for as long as they are our patient.