At Lifetime Dental, we welcome patients of all ages from toddlers to teens and adults. We want to make keeping all of your favorite smiles cavity-free and healthy as easy as possible, which is why our experienced team offers comprehensive dentistry, ranging from routine checkups and cleanings to kid-friendly treatments like dental sealants. To schedule an appointment for your child alongside your next upcoming checkup and cleaning, give our office a call today!
The American Dental Association as well as the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends bringing your child in for their first checkup by the time they turn one, or whenever their first tooth erupts. While these earlier visits will primarily consist of checkups to help them get more comfortable with our team, once they get older, we’ll also add in thorough dental cleanings. This will minimize your child’s risk of developing severe oral health problems like tooth infections, as we’ll be able to spot the small issues and treat them before they have an opportunity to advance.
Cavities are one of the most common oral health problems among children, as they’re still learning how to properly care for their smiles with effective brushing and flossing. If your child is at a high risk of developing decay, we can help protect their teeth with dental sealants. This preventive treatment is pain-free and highly effective. All we do is paint a clear protective layer over the top of the biting surface of their teeth. Once it hardens, it will keep food debris and plaque from accumulating in the nooks and grooves of their molars, which commonly leads to cavities.
Fluoride is a naturally derived mineral that’s produced by rocks and found in other natural sources, like the air, soil, and fresh fruits and vegetables. However, most people know it to be added to community water sources as a way to protect their teeth from cavities. This is because it helps strengthen enamel, which is the outermost protective layer of teeth. If your child needs to have their fluoride supplemented, we can place a fluoridated gel on their teeth at the end of their routine cleaning.
Most people will deal with cavities throughout their lives whether they’re an adult or child. To help rebuild the decayed structure of teeth as well as keep the cavity from spreading, we can place a tooth-colored filling. This process is relatively quick and pain-less, so your child won’t have to sit any longer than necessary in the treatment chair. It can also prevent something like a small cavity from becoming a tooth infection down the road, saving your child from discomfort and a trip to the emergency dentist.
Does your child play contact sports? We can help protect their precious smile with one of our customized athletic mouthguards. They’re designed to provide maximum protection to their teeth, jaw joints, and jaw, as well as feel flexible and comfortable. This allows them to breathe more easily while they’re running and jumping, all while protecting them from knocking-out or damaging their teeth.