One of the primary goals of pediatric dentistry is to prevent oral health concerns rather than only dealing with them if they develop. In addition to educational services to help parents care for their child's teeth between visits, pediatric dentists offer preventive dental treatments that help reduce the risk of cavities, gum disease, and other concerns.
Every pediatric dentist offers their own set of services. However, there are some more common preventive dental treatments that most offer. These pediatric dentistry services include diagnostic services, routine cleaning, dental sealants, fluoride treatment, and a dental mouthguard.
Diagnostic services play an important role in pediatric dentistry. Common services such as an oral examination and dental X-rays help detect potential concerns as early as possible to help prevent them from developing into more concerning oral health problems.
Routine dental cleaning is one of the most common preventive dental treatments recommended on every check-up visit, which should ideally take place every four to six months. The purpose of this procedure is to remove plaque and tartar accumulation along the gum line and on the surface of teeth enamel. Song other benefits, this greatly reduces the risk of childhood cavities.
Dental sealants are another great way to reduce children's overall risk of cavities. Sealants are plastic coatings placed over the chewing surfaces of molars and premolars, which are the most vulnerable areas and most susceptible to enamel decay. This common preventive dental treatment is minimally invasive and does not cause the child any discomfort.
Your child's pediatric dentistry may also provide fluoride treatment if they detect that the child's enamel has started to weaken. Fluoride can remineralize enamel and help prevent erosion (cavities) from occurring. This is often a great way to prevent the need for restorative treatments such as dental fillings and dental crowns.
A dental mouth guard helps protect against dental trauma, such as getting hit in the mouth by a ball during a sporting event. Mouth guards should be worn whenever a blow to the face is possible. Your child's pediatric dentistry can assess the need for a mouth guard based on your child's lifestyle and extracurricular activities. Many provide custom mouthguards that are comfortable and highly protective.
Restorative treatments such as cavity fillings, dental crown placement, dental bonding, and a baby root canal procedure (among many others) are also available in most pediatric dentistry practices. Although prevention is the focus, restorative treatments are sometimes necessary, even with good oral care.
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If your child is due for their next pediatric dentistry visit for a check-up and cleaning, or if they have specific oral health concerns that need to be addressed, then contact us today. We pride ourselves in offering a friendly environment for children, ensuring they receive the quality dental care they need and desire in a comfortable and relaxed environment.
Request an appointment or call Precision Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry at 703-391-8800 for an appointment in our Reston office.
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