Early detection and treatment is critical to the development of healthy teeth and gums. Below are 10 dental treatments for kids that every parent should consider.
Dental Treatments Your Child Might Need
1) Examinations
Like most conditions, early detection is the key to good oral health. And identifying potential problems at a young age can help steer your child toward a lifetime of bright smiles. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends children begin having regular 6-month checkups as soon as they sprout their first tooth.
2) Cleanings
No matter how diligently you brush your child’s teeth or how well they get the hang of it themselves, you’re unlikely to give as thorough of a cleaning as the dentist. The special tools and treatments used at a kid’s dentist will remove the harmful bacteria that a toothbrush can’t.
3) Sealants
At an age where proper dental care is still being learned, preventive measures can be instrumental. A sealant is a thin layer of plastic that is brushed onto a child’s molars to provide a protective shield against harmful bacteria.
4) Cavity treatments
It’s important for children to have cavities properly treated, even if the teeth will fall out anyway. Cavities can affect a child’s nutrition, cause overbites and other alignment problems, prevent adult teeth from growing in correctly, and lead to infections that affect the gums and other nearby teeth.
5) Disking
Disking involves shaving off thin layers of certain teeth to allow more room for surrounding teeth to grow in straight and correctly.
6) Space maintainers
When a baby tooth falls out prematurely, surrounding teeth may begin to grow crooked into the open space. A space maintainer keeps teeth in their own lanes by blocking off that open space and helping all teeth continue to be aligned.
7) X-rays
An X-ray helps a dentist identify potential issues that are not visible to the naked eye, such as tiny cavities forming in between teeth.
8) Early orthodontic treatment
Children as young as 6 can benefit from orthodontic treatments designed to aid in the early development of young teeth.
9) Anesthesia
Anesthesia is a treatment designed to help young patients get through many other types of treatments that may be too scary for them.
10) Emergency care
Kids can be rambunctious, so emergency dental treatment may be needed as a result of a fall or other accident.
Schedule an Appointment For Your Child
If your child is in need of dental care near Wilson, NC, schedule an appointment with the team at Wilson Pediatric Dentistry. The proper dental treatment at a young age can set your child up for a lifetime of smiles, and Wilson Pediatric Dentistry can help.
