Good Oral Hygiene Starts Early
Professional guidance sets up young patients up for success, encouraging habits that will help them for decades. Most dentists agree that the most efficient approach to caring for a child’s first set of twenty teeth is to be proactive and as educational as possible. Since our smile will eventually be replaced as we get older, patients who are slowly losing and regaining teeth typically avoid any advanced dental restorations. Instead, more attention is focused on developing useful maintenance techniques and offering minimal treatments strictly to facilitate the adult teeth as they are appearing.
Some common services offered for children are:
Cleanings twice a year to prevent bacterial build-up and issues from developing.
Fluoride application for additional protection and bolstering enamel.
Composite fillings repair fractured teeth or areas affected by decay.
Crowns restore teeth beyond standard filling treatment with a durable cap.
Extractions remove teeth that will inevitably fall naturally to encourage optimal positioning.
Early Visits
Our teeth are influenced by the food we eat and hygiene practices from the first sign a tooth is emerging. It helps to have your general dentist review the first tooth that erupts in a toddler’s gum line. Working with parents is crucial to pediatric dentistry since children often forget to brush for a full two minutes or floss which is entirely understandable. However, encouraging parents to monitor their son or daughter’s oral hygiene habits can help adjust their routine and ensure their children care for their teeth adequately from the start.
Wisdom teeth
It’s no coincidence that your third molars, or wisdom teeth, arrive in our late teens to early twenties as we approach adulthood. These extra back teeth no longer naturally fit in with our oral structure and their extraction typically marks the end of our teenage years. Once wisdom teeth have been removed, your smile is more or less in its final form and must continue to be cared for just like we have growing up.
Plan for Their Future
Dr. Le has worked with patients for years from very young until they eventually started bringing their own children in for their first exam. Call West Valley Dental today and schedule your child’s first visit and secure healthy teeth for you and your loved one’s future, they will thank you later!