Brushing and flossing will be your child’s first line of defense against most oral health problems, but they are going to need some professional assistance and dental procedures as well. Regularly taking your child to the dentist for preventative treatments will greatly reduce their risk cavities, periodontal disease, and other serious issues.
Fluoride Treatments
Fluoride is an important mineral that protects the teeth from many different types of damage. Hopefully don’t have fluoride in your water, as this is incredibly unhealthy and bad for human development, especially in children.
However, when used on the teeth and not ingested, fluoride is very helpful. You should schedule regular fluoride treatments for your child. That simple procedure is minimally invasive, and your child’s dentist should be able to complete it within just a few minutes. The dentist might also suggest that your child uses fluoride toothpaste or mouthwash while their teeth are still growing.
Spacers
Also known as space maintainers, spacers are small devices that are placed directly between the teeth. The primary purpose of spacers is to ensure that the nearby teeth come in at the correct angle. Once the teeth are completely in, the spacers can easily be taken out.
Using space maintainers will lessen your child’s risk of developing malocclusion later on in life, and these devices are usually placed in the mouth when the adult teeth first begin to erupt.
Think about how braces work to straighten teeth; Invisalign does the same job, only that they are better and preferred by most dentists. They are invisible due to their transparent material, painless, and their materials don’t pose any discomfort to your gums as metal braces do.
Your child’s dentist can use Invisalign Clear Aligners to help your child straighten their teeth from a very young age. As mentioned before, these aligners do not use metal, so you don’t have to worry about your child becoming uncomfortable. They are very discreet and easily installed in the mouth for treatment.
Invisalign are easily removable, meaning your child can remove them when they need to eat or, at times, the dentist recommends; you should remove them to clean out specks of dirt and bacteria for a fresh breath.
Another advantage is that clear aligners offer treatment faster than traditional braces; yes, your child will have his dental issue treated faster so they can develop confidently. Healthy teeth translate to the healthy well-being that your child deserves.
Sealants
When your child brushes and flosses, most of the plaque and tartar should be removed from their mouth. Unfortunately, they are going to miss some debris, and that could eventually result in cavities. If tooth decay is left untreated for a long period of time, then the teeth might need to be extracted entirely and replaced with dental implants.
To avoid those issues, your dentist can place thin dental sealants on each of your child’s teeth. The sealants create an impenetrable barrier between the teeth and plaque, and they naturally dissolve over time.
Periodontal Therapy
One of the most important services that a dentist carries out is periodontal therapy. That particular treatment allows the dentist to remove any debris that has become wedged between the teeth or under the gums. As an added bonus, periodontal therapy can also brighten your child’s smile, and that is going to boost their confidence in the coming years.
While every child has slightly different needs, most experts agree that younger patients should visit the dentist at least once a year. During those appointments, the dentist can catch and treat minor problems before they become serious health complications.