Regular dental health care is important for everyone, but for children, it may not always entail the same things as it does for adults. For example, most basic dental health care concepts are similar no matter the age of the patient, such as the need for regular cleaning and professional examination. However, some concerns are specific to the health of children’s teeth and oral structures, such as the need to preserve their primary teeth to promote better growth and development of their permanent ones. Today, we look at just a few ways in which dental care for children might mean something different than it does for adults.
Why prevention is most important
Prevention is important both for children and adults, and as always, it’s the main focus of children’s dental health care. Simply put, preventing problems is much easier than dealing with them, and for children, such problems could have longer lasting consequences than you might realize at first. For example, if you develop a cavity (tooth decay), then you should treat it as soon as possible to save the tooth. If your child develops tooth decay, however, treating it is also essential for protecting the permanent tooth structure that’s developing underneath it.
Using fluoride to strengthen their teeth
Because of the important nature of preventive care for children, routine checkups and cleanings are the most important part of your child’s dental health treatment. However, checkups and cleanings aren’t the only way we help children prevent oral health problems. For example, if we notice that your child’s tooth enamel has grown weak and might be susceptible to tooth decay, we can recommend additional measures such as fluoride treatment to strengthen it. Fluoride bonds to the mineral strands of your child’s tooth enamel, boosting its resilience and ability to prevent oral bacteria from infecting the tooth structure.
Providing additional protection with sealants
The ability to boost the strength of your child’s tooth enamel is what makes fluoride treatment beneficial, but for additional protection, we can also recommend treatment with biocompatible dental sealants. Sometimes, the best way to protect your child’s teeth is to directly block oral bacteria from reaching them. This can allow them greater time to rebuild the strength of their enamel and prevent tooth decay. Dental sealants accomplish this by creating a barrier between your child’s tooth enamel and the food particles and oral bacteria that form plaque.
Learn more about children’s dental care
Providing quality dental care for children means helping them enjoy healthy smiles for life, starting with a heavy focus on prevention. To learn more, schedule an appointment with Dr. Smith and our team by calling Pecan Tree Dental in Grand Prairie, TX, today at (972) 262-5111.
