Common Child Dental Treatments and Their Benefits

Understanding each child dental treatment can prepare you and your child for your next dental visit. Your dentist can discuss the options that can help improve your child’s dental health. Familiarity can also relieve your child’s anxiety. Here are the common options for child dental treatment and their corresponding benefits.

Professional dental cleanings

Research shows that daily brushing and flossing are not enough to keep stains, tartar, and plaque away. It is common for kids to skip some areas of the mouth during oral cleaning, which is why children are prone to developing gum disease and dental decay. A professional dental cleaning visit is a child dental treatment that can remove stubborn tartar and plaque. It can also promote good oral health and prevent cavities.

Dental sealants

The dentist may recommend this child dental treatment the moment the child’s first molar comes out. Back teeth are for chewing and grinding foods. Each of them has deep grooves that trap food particles and bacteria. Children often find these teeth difficult to clean.

Painting these teeth with dental sealants is an ideal way to protect these teeth from cavities. The dentist will clean the back teeth first. Dental sealants come in liquid form, so the dentist will paint them on the back teeth. The liquid hardens the moment it meets saliva. This child dental treatment can prevent food particles and bacteria from sticking to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. It can also enable the child to clean the back teeth with more ease.

Fluoride treatment

Research shows that fluoride is essential in protecting the enamel layer of teeth. This naturally occurring element can make each tooth resistant to dental decay. Studies reveal that fluoride treatment can reverse the symptoms of early dental decay. This element prevents cavities from worsening. A balanced diet, fluoride toothpaste, and regular fluoride treatment can strengthen a child’s teeth. These are important dental health elements during the formative years.

This child dental treatment can make young teeth resistant to bacterial acids attacks. It is ideal for kids with poor oral hygiene and a high-sugar diet. The dentist can also recommend this treatment for kids likely to develop cavities. Fluoride treatments are available in rinses, gels, or varnishes.

Fluoride treatment is a painless and quick child dental treatment. The dentist will paint the dental sealant on the target teeth. In some cases, the patient will bite down on a tray containing the sealant. The dentist will remind the child not to drink or eat for more than 30 minutes. The fluoride will penetrate the enamel during this time.

Dental restorations

Applying dental restorations is a common child dental treatment that can bring back a child’s painless smile. It can support proper dental alignment and speech development. Dental restorations can also help the child get better nutrition. Restoring the healthy appearance of teeth can even elevate a child’s self-esteem.

Dental fillings repair mild to moderate cavities. The dentist will clean and disinfect the target sections of the teeth. Applying the filling will seal the cavity. It can also protect the teeth from future decay and maintain the dental arch’s integrity.

A dental crown can protect the whole tooth above the gumline. The dentist can recommend this child dental treatment after a pulpotomy, which is a root canal for kids. Placing a crown over the treated tooth will strengthen it. This restoration can also protect the tooth from future damage or infection.

Dental extraction

There are cases when a child’s tooth develops severe decay or overcrowding. A bad fall or facial injury may also cause a tooth to crack. In these situations, the dentist will assess the affected tooth. A dental extraction is in order if restorations cannot repair the tooth anymore.

The level of decay may reach beyond the roots. In this situation, an extraction is necessary to prevent the infection from reaching other teeth and the jawbone. Removing one or more teeth is also necessary for cases of overcrowding. This child dental treatment is often a preparation for braces. Extracting teeth can provide other teeth with enough space to realign.

A severe crack or chip after a facial trauma or fall will need a dental extraction. This situation may result in tooth damage beyond the gumline. Removing the tooth will stop the pain. It can also prevent bacteria from causing more damage.

Each common child dental treatment can help your child achieve better oral health

A child may experience situations when a child dental treatment may be necessary. The dentist will assess your child’s mouth first. Discussing the right dental solution for your child can give you peace of mind. Working with your dentist can give your child a healthier, brighter smile while growing up.

Request an appointment here: https://www.grandparkwaypediatricdental.com or call Grand Parkway Pediatric Dental at (832) 579-0960 for an appointment in our Richmond office.

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