Infant Oral Exam

Children are a blessing. With each baby being introduced into this world, we do our best to protect and help them in every capacity. One way of caring for our little one’s is an infant exam to ensure proper dental development and sequencing. Ideally, the first visit is when the child develops their first tooth through their gums. Your child may not be a fan of a dentist checking their mouth, but this forgotten memory of theirs is great to talk with parents, educate on oral health, and catch any discrepancies that would have gone unnoticed until potential problems arose.

Pediatric Cleanings

At a comfortable age, which could vary from child to child, we want to begin introducing them to the dental setting. The best way to do this is through cleanings. During these appointments, we can slowly build their trust and increase their comfort levels with our office. Plus, it is a great time to perform an exam and ensure there are no signs of decay and the child has proper development and sequencing.

Fluoride

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral. Years ago, fluoride was recognized for its properties of preventing tooth decay and bacteria build up. Fluoride is an amazing substance that increases the hardness of our teeth and is antimicrobial. It is for these reasons that we as dentists recommend fluoride for all ages, but especially our younger population. The fluoride we use in toothpastes and applicators is always regulated and in safe measurements.

Frenectomy

With development, we have certain areas of our mouth that are connected to other soft tissues as anchors of sorts. Of these anatomical features are our frenums near our lips and tongue. These anchors can be so restrictive that it makes a breastfeeding difficult, speech development delayed, and tooth positioning improper. A simple procedure called a frenectomy can correct these issues for the child and provide them with astounding results.

Pediatric Sealants

When we fix our eyes on our beautiful California landscape, at times we can see canyons and crevices between mountains and foothills. Our teeth have very similar features. These features are called developmental grooves. Some may be shallow, while some may be deep and even communicating below the enamel. The latter circumstances pose risk for hygiene concerns and thus decay. By placing a filling material over these deep grooves, we can seal the canyons and crevices and prevent food and plaque build up, thus making it easier to keep clean and prevent decay.

Considerations

Very few children are experts at brushing their teeth, let alone doing it altogether on their own. It is extremely recommended that we as parents, brush our children’s teeth until they properly demonstrate acceptable brushing techniques and habits. We should encourage proper diet, hygiene routines, and regular visits to the dental team to ensure we are instilling long term success for their oral health.