Preventive Dentistry for Children – Arlington Heights, IL

Dental Checkups & Teeth Cleanings

Your child should first see a dentist no later than the age of 12 months, and after that they should receive preventive checkups and cleanings every six months. These regular appointments help prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health problems by giving us a chance to remove bacteria from the mouth and identify potential problems early on. We can discuss your child’s dental development during these visits in case there are any issues that you need to keep an eye out for.

Dental Sealants 

It can be hard for a toothbrush to clean between the small cracks and grooves on the chewing surfaces of the teeth. The molars can be particularly tricky to clean owing to their location. As a result, many children end up developing cavities in their molars while they’re still learning how to brush. Dental sealants can be applied to the molars to make the small grooves they contain smooth so that they are less likely to accumulate plaque.

Silver Diamine Fluoride Treatment

Normal fluoride helps strengthen the teeth, but silver diamine fluoride goes even further. Not only does it help kill bacteria, but it also aids the remineralization process (which is how the tooth rebuilds itself). It can be used to painlessly halt cavity development, making it a comfortable option for children who might be afraid of dental drills or are just generally anxious about seeing the dentist. Applying silver diamine fluoride to the teeth takes very little time and normally only has to be done once per year for the best results.

Oral Health Risk Assessment 

Not all children have the same risk for cavities. Some might need more preventive oral health care than others to keep their teeth safe. An oral health risk assessment allows us to evaluate your child’s risk level for tooth decay and other oral diseases. Follow-up treatments may be scheduled based on the results of the assessment, and we’ll make any recommendations for changes that you might need to make to your child’s overall lifestyle and oral care routine.

Teething

When a baby starts teething, they might be fussier and more irritable than normal, they’re likely to have trouble sleeping, and you may notice a loss of appetite. We can teach you the proper techniques for soothing your baby during the teething process, and we’ll make sure that you’re aware of any unusual symptoms that might require immediate attention. Also, we can help you review some of the products marketed for teething child and steer you towards the ones that are actually safe and effective.

Non-Nutritive Habits

There’s nothing wrong with an infant sucking their finger or thumb for comfort, but such behaviors shouldn’t last longer than age 3. If your little one does not break their non-nutritive sucking habits by then, they could end up altering their dentition, resulting in issues that require orthodontic intervention. As part of your child’s preventive care, we will help you identify non-nutritive habits and help you successfully intervene before they reach the age become problematic.

Athletic Mouthguards

Watching your child having fun while they play their favorite sport can be rewarding, but it can also be nerve-wracking knowing that they could break or lose a tooth in the event of an accident. Dental injuries are unfortunately common in sports, but you can help your child avoid them with an athletic mouthguard. Instead of entrusting your little one’s smile to a one-size-fits-all mouthguard, ask our team for guard that has been customized to provide optimal protection specifically for your child.