Similar to the American Dental Association’s recommendation for adults, children should get their teeth cleaned twice per year at their pediatric dental office. There are several reasons that this is recommended, the obvious is to have their teeth cleaned regularly. However, it is also to ensure their teeth and mouth are developing properly over time as well.
Your child’s habit of regularly brushing their teeth at home is important to their lifelong oral health. However, it is still not enough to keep their teeth and gums both healthy and strong on their own. Developing good habits is vital to achieving great, lifelong oral health. These good habits should also include regular trips to the dentist as well.
The American Dental Association recommends consistent trips to the pediatric dentist beginning around the time their child’s first few teeth are coming in. They also state that it should be no later than their first birthday. This allows the dentist to see where your child's development is at in order to treat them based on their individual needs.
A Typical Pediatric Dental Cleaning
Pediatric dental visits typically seem way more complex than they really are. This is especially true if either the child or their parent has any anxiety associated with dental visits. In fact, on average a regular pediatric dental checkup usually takes less than an hour. Yet, the benefits of these visits and good oral health can be seen for decades to come.
At each appointment, our dental staff starts by reviewing the patient’s oral health history. This may include a few questions for the patient and their parents about their oral health. We will then take a few X-rays of the patient’s mouth. This is standard practice to see how the child's teeth and jaw are looking.
While the dentist is reviewing the x-rays and any associated information, our pediatric hygienist cleans the patient's teeth of plaque buildups and residue. Our hygienist then uses an ultrasonic dental tool to ensure all sides of every tooth are clean. This is followed by flossing the patient’s teeth and then finally polishing them.
Once the cleaning portion of the appointment is over, Dr. Casey will examine the patient for cavities and other concerns she may have had from looking at the X-rays. She will also examine the patient’s teeth and gums to be sure they are healthy. At this time, she will also address any concerns she has moving forward as well as treatment options available if necessary.
Dr. Casey is great about offering tips for parents to help their children develop good, oral habits. We know that these habits start at home, which is why we focus on giving parents the information they need to feel confident in their children’s dental health care both here in the office and at home.
When To Start?
The American Dental Association recommends taking your child to their first pediatric dental appointment not long after they get their very first tooth. Parents can expect that these first teeth usually begin to appear when the child is 6 months old. While every child develops at their own pace, it is highly encouraged that you bring your child in for their first pediatric dental appointment no later than their first birthday.
At Medical Center Children’s Dentistry, we also urge parents to bring their kids in every six months starting after that first appointment. Their dental appointments for the first few years typically will not include many kids’ dental cleanings. Instead, Dr. Casey will take this time to educate parents on oral care, as well as look for symptoms of potential development issues within the patient's mouth.
While this is your child’s pediatric dental appointment, as their caretaker most of the responsibility falls back on you, especially while your child is young. This is why we want all of our patient’s parents and guardians to ask questions. This time is about learning how to best care for your child’s unique oral health needs, so we want to be sure you feel confident you have the knowledge you need to succeed.
Ideal Visit Frequency
It is recommended that after the first visit, children should go to the dentist every six months for a pediatric dental cleaning and check-up. The reason that six months is the recommended time frame is that dentists, such as Dr. Casey, aim for their treatment to be proactive rather than reactive.
We would rather spend time preventing future cavities than fighting off active ones. A six-month time frame gives dentists time to treat potential issues before they become actual oral health issues. This is also why the practice of six-month dental appointments should extend into adulthood and for the rest of the patient’s life.
Oral health plays an important role in our overall health starting early in our lives. Dental science has discovered through the Oral Systemic Link that good, lifelong oral health can even prevent some major diseases later on in life. One of the many reasons consistency in dental visits is vital to our health as a whole.
Importance of Consistent Cleanings
Dental cleanings every six months may seem like a lot to some parents, especially if they maintain good oral hygiene at home. However, children don’t have the same dexterity as adults. So they naturally aren’t as good at brushing their teeth, even if they are consistent. If they aren’t flossing as well, they could actually miss up to 30% of their tooth’s surface when they do brush.
Dental cleanings give our pediatric patients a chance to start with a “clean slate” every six months as they are developing these positive oral hygiene habits. Dental cleanings often involve the hygienist and the dentist adding additional protection against cavities, infections, and other oral health challenges. These may include medical fluoride, sealants, and other solutions that parents don’t have access to at home.
More importantly, these dental cleanings allow Dr. Casey the opportunity to identify potential problems before they get too serious. It is also a chance for her to provide any needed treatment for tooth decay, gum disease, and other abnormalities a pediatric patient may need. For many of these solutions, timeliness plays a key factor in long-term success. Hence, the recommendation of "every six months."
Family vs. Pediatric Dentist
This is one of the most common questions that we get. “Is it better to take my child to a Pediatric Dentist or a Family Dentist?” The truth is that it is up to the parents or guardians of the patient as to what option they think best meets their child’s needs. Family Dentists are just General Dentists that advertise that they also see children as patients too. Meanwhile, Pediatric Dentists are more specialized. Pediatric Dentists graduate from Dental School as General Dentists and then do an additional two years of specialized training focused specifically on the needs of pediatric dental patients and age-specific treatments.
While many Family Dentists are great at treating children, some pediatric dental patients need the specialized care that only Pediatric Dentists offer. At Medical Center Children’s Dentistry, we also have experience treating patients with severe dental anxiety, sensory sensitivities, and a variety of unique healthcare needs as well. We even have a number of lifelong patients with disabilities who have utilized our care for over 25 years.
Regardless of your child’s needs Dr. Casey and our team at Medical Center Children’s Dentistry are here to ensure they receive the best dental care available. We have a variety of resources for our patient's parents to help them get their child to the dentist every six months. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment, want to know when your child’s next one is, or have a general question feel free to reach out to us any time! We make scheduling an appointment easy, just contact us today and we'll get your child on our schedule!
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