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Just like their parents, kids need to visit the dentist regularly for cleanings and examinations twice per year. These appointments prevent and detect oral health problems like gum disease and tooth decay before they become worse. Each meeting with a member of your team lets your child receive a valuable review of their smile and sets up their habits for a lifetime of healthy teeth! In today’s blog, your Shirley, NY, pediatric dentist and orthodontist will talk about the benefits of children’s dentistry.

Welcoming Your Child To Their First Dental Appointment

How do you know when it is time to bring your child to the dentist? For their initial trip, we recommend scheduling an appointment when their first tooth erupts or by age one, whichever happens first. While we will not perform any significant treatment, a simple lap exam lets us see that their little teeth are coming in appropriately. This introduction acclimates your little one to the dentist’s office and can make them feel more comfortable at later routine cleaning and checkups. When the time is right, we will place your child on a semiannual visitation schedule to receive oral care. The trips help us teach healthy habits to care for their smiles at home. Discussing proper brushing and flossing techniques as well as making healthy meal choices will go a long way in protecting your child from tooth decay and gum disease.

A Child’s Dental Examination

The examination portion of your child’s pediatric visit includes imaging the create a record of their developing smile. Digital technology allows us to capture and store photographs instantaneously to understand how your child’s teeth now appear. With modern accuracy, this valuable tool can help us detect decay and disease in their earliest forms. We may also detect common misalignment problems in childhood, and imaging can lead to providing orthodontic solutions for straightening their teeth.

Cleaning Kids’ Teeth

A member of our team will perform a cleaning at each appointment to remove plaque and tartar deposits on the surface of your child’s teeth. While a kid’s daily brushing and flossing habits form the basis for a clean smile, some kids need a little more help than their parents. In these early years, we prioritize preventive treatments to stop tooth decay before it even starts. Services such as dental sealants and fluoride treatments provide an added layer of protection against oral bacteria.

Talk To Your Shirley, NY, Orthodontist and Pediatric Dentist About Preventive Dental Care For Your Child

We would like to help kids enjoy optimal oral health. With regular visits to our office, your child can enjoy a bright and healthy smile! To learn more about our preventive checkups and cleanings, then contact Shirley Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry in Shirley, NY, by calling (631) 399-1600.