What Types of Treatments Does Early Dental Care Provide?

Early dental care visits are encouraged after your child’s first birthday and include a regular check-up and cleaning every four to six months. In addition, other services are often a part of an early dental care treatment and prevention plan discussed in this review.

Early dental care treatments

Early dental care services may vary for each practice based on each dentist’s focus and specialty. However, there are more common services that you can expect when visiting a dentist that offers early dental care services. These notably include diagnostic, preventive, educational, restorative, and early orthodontic services.

Diagnostic services

Diagnostic services for early dental care are not the same as diagnostic services for adults. Diagnosis in children is less about looking for oral health issues based on symptoms and more about simply understanding the child’s oral health in general. There are rarely oral health issues to address during the toddler age. Common diagnostic services for early dental care include:

• Dental X-rays.
• Oral examination.
• Family history review.
• General health review.

Preventive services

As mentioned, perhaps the primary goal of early dental care is to prevent oral health concerns now as well as in the future. Dentists can help reduce the risk of many oral health issues through preventive services. These preventive services include:

• Routine cleanings.
• Dental sealants.
• Fluoride treatment.
• Educational services (see below).

Educational Services

Educational services aim to equip parents and the child with the information they need to prevent oral health concerns and recognize them if they develop. Educational services may include a simple discussion on each child’s oral care routine visit and what improvements they and we can make. It also includes providing dietary information. We may also advise on how to prevent dental trauma in the future (i.e., the importance of a mouthguard).

Restorative services

The goal is to prevent the need for restorative procedures. However, in some cases, the need for restoration may still be in order. Common restorative procedures include but are not limited to:

• Cavity fillings.
• Dental crowns.
• Dental sealants.
• Baby root canal.

Early orthodontic services

Dental practitioners do not recommend orthodontic care before the age of 8 or 9. However, before orthodontic services, such as braces and clear aligners, some services and treatments can help; these services are referred to as “early orthodontic care.” We typically recommend early orthodontic care for six- or seven-year-old children who may be at a higher risk for misaligned jaw and teeth. Notable early orthodontic care services include palatal expanders and early braces, among other possible recommendations.