At Kids City Dental, our Brighton team of professionals is committed to keeping young smiles as healthy as possible. By scheduling your child’s checkups and cleanings from a very early age, we can implement a prevention-based approach to reduce the risk of oral disease.
Your child’s dental cleanings are important for their future adult smile. Although kids are far less likely to develop periodontal disease, there are still specific risks associated with buildup on their teeth. Such as gingivitis, bad breath, tooth decay, issues with self-esteem, and their social/personal relationships.
What to Expect
How long does a child’s dental cleaning take? Usually, 30-45 minutes, depending on the child’s age. If they have braces the cleaning could take a little longer. During the appointment, we can offer preventative therapies such as:
Professional Cleaning—Preventative dental cleanings remove all soft plaque and hard tartar buildup from your child’s teeth, giving them a “blank slate” to work with once they get back home. We’ll also gently polish their enamel to remove surface stains, leaving brighter and smoother teeth behind.
Oral Hygiene Education—As we clean your child’s teeth, we’ll see exactly where the buildup is heaviest. From there, we can discuss dexterity and age-appropriate methods for your child to clean their teeth more effectively. If they still need a little help from an adult, we’ll show you how you can assist them. Until your child can tie his or her shoe, they still need a grownup helping them brush and floss.
Nutritional Guidance—Some children need a bit of encouragement when it comes to making healthy snack choices. Sports drinks, fruit snacks, or even carb-loaded snacks easily feed bacteria and encourage tooth decay. If we spot areas of concern or heavy buildup during your child’s dental cleaning, we’ll discuss smart ways to increase their water intake and healthy snack options.
Protective Dental Sealants—Sealants are usually placed by our hygienist or dentist after your child’s dental cleaning. Sealants are protective layers that go over the deep grooves of a child’s back teeth (molars). This cover reduces the chances of cavities in those areas and makes the teeth easier to clean with a toothbrush. They work best on permanent 6 and 12-year molars, right after those teeth erupt.
Fluoride Treatment—Fluoride is a natural mineral that helps make teeth strong, similar to calcium. When applied to weak or demineralized enamel, fluoride can reverse the earliest stages of tooth decay. We recommend applying it after every pediatric dental cleaning. Our Brighton dentists can also prescribe a professional strength gel to use at home (such as if your child is at high risk for cavities or wears braces.)
And That’s Not All
And don’t forget their dental exam! Your child’s smile will be evaluated by one of our Brighton dentists for cavities, bite irregularities, speech and swallowing patterns, and more. The “checkup” tends to highlight dental cleanings, but the examination is also an important part of your child’s six-month visits.
We will also use diagnostic X-rays to screen for issues like crowding, missing teeth, unerupted teeth, cavities, and cysts.
Although we schedule exams as young as age 1, our Brighton dentists will follow your child’s cues to determine when they’re ready to have their teeth cleaned with the hygienist. Typically, we’ll progress a little more at each visit until they’re ready, which is usually around age 3 or 4.
How Often to Schedule Kids Dental Cleanings
How many dental cleanings a year do children need? Kids dental cleanings are scheduled twice a year (every six months), just like adults. Because your child’s mouth is rapidly developing and transforming into a permanent adult smile, these frequent checkups allow our Brighton dentists to closely monitor their oral growth patterns. Additionally, routine checkups provide us with a head start when it comes to intercepting cavities or orthodontic complications.
Need a Pediatric Dentist in Brighton?
Kids City Dental is a kid-focused, family-friendly dental practice offering kids dental cleanings and more. If your child is due for their first checkup or you’re new to the area and looking for a pediatric dentist in Brighton, we encourage you to call our general dentists, who specifically cater to pediatric oral health needs.
Contact our office today to schedule!