Early preventative dental care is essential for laying the foundations of good oral hygiene habits. Preventative care is so vital that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all babies see a dentist by their first birthday or within six months of the first tooth erupting. Here’s why preventative dental care is crucial to your child’s healthy development.
What are the Benefits of Preventative Dental Care for Infants, Toddlers, and Children?
There’s an old saying that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This adage certainly applies to early dental treatment. It is much easier to prevent oral problems than to correct problems that have gone untreated.
Preventative dental care for infants, toddlers, and children offers the following benefits:
Keep Teeth Clean and Healthy
Regular preventative dental appointments remove stains, plaque and calculus. More importantly, during every preventive treatment, our pediatric dentist and staff educate your child about the importance of good oral hygiene habits and tips on how to incorporate it into their daily lives. Empowering kids with oral health knowledge helps them take ownership of maintaining healthy teeth.
Prevent Cavities
Preventative dental care for kids can be addressed by applying dental sealants on the grooves of molars in order to strengthen teeth and prevent cavities in areas that are susceptible to decay. In addition, if Dr. Tasker diagnoses small cavities in your child silver diamine fluoride can be applied so that they do not grow larger.
Diagnose Invisible Problems
Reduced radiation digital x-rays allow your pediatric dentist to see beneath the soft tissues in the mouth. These can be used to diagnose problems such as impacted teeth, inflammation in the gum or jaw,and to screen for tumors, cysts and cancerous lesions.
Prevent Gum Disease
Even with excellent brushing and flossing habits, some plaque will build up on children’s teeth. (Incidentally, this is true of adults, too). Regular cleanings, which are included with all preventative appointments, remove tartar and bacteria that can cause gum disease.
Ensure Children Receive Enough Fluoride
Fluoride helps to prevent cavities from forming or spreading because it hinders bacteria from creating acid (which can damage tooth enamel). Your pediatric dentist may recommend fluoride varnish treatments if your child does not receive enough fluoride from water and fluoride toothpaste.
Save Space for Adult Teeth
As your child begins losing baby teeth, preventative appointments are beneficial to ensure adequate space for adult teeth to erupt. Each appointment includes a thorough oral exam. If your dentist finds that there may be crowding issues (often resulting from premature loss of baby teeth), they can recommend treatments such as space maintainers or early interceptive orthodontics treatment to retain or regain space for the permanent teeth to erupt.
Preventative Care Saves Money for Parents
Regular preventative dental care can save a small fortune. When your child sees the dentist twice a year, there is less likelihood that a small problem will have time to develop into a more complex and costly problem later.
Book a Dental Exam and Cleaning for Your Child in Albuquerque
Board-Certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Spencer J. Tasker is a pediatric dentist who has been practicing in Albuquerque for the last 16 years. As a Diplomate with the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Tasker prioritizes prevention and education as the keys to lasting oral health. For your convenience, you may request an appointment online or by calling 505-888-3520.
We look forward to welcoming you to the ABQ Pediatric Dentistry family!