James E Sullivan DDS Dentist Fort Washington Maryland

When you visit our Fort Washington dentist office for a childrens dental cleaning, we will remove the plaque and tartar on your child’s teeth, but that is only the start. The cleanings are incredibly important because it allows us to remove the plaque and tartar that have built up on their teeth, in an effort to prevent both cavities and decay. Doing so twice a year is the best way to keep your children in excellent oral health. However, there is more that must be done. When you bring them to our office, we will also recommend:

#1 – An examination

Our Fort Washington dentist office always examines our patients’ teeth to identify any signs of early decay. Waiting until a full blown cavity has developed is unnecessary and unwise. We can look at your child’s teeth and find areas that are getting soft and identify any locations that could turn into decay. By applying fluoride, we may be able to reverse course. If we cannot because a cavity is already forming, we can remove the decay, clean the area, and provide them with a dental filling. The key is to identify and treat these issues early before your child ever feels a toothache. We view this as incredibly important for developing a positive view of dentistry and for keeping your child or children comfortable.

#2 – A fluoride treatment

After we are done with a children’s dental cleaning, we typically recommend completing a fluoride treatment. This is the easiest way for us to strengthen their teeth and combat erosion. Many people are unaware that by simply eating, drinking soda, and brushing teeth too aggressively, the enamel on the teeth may start to erode. When it does, the teeth become more susceptible to getting cavities or becoming infected. By applying a fluoride treatment, we can strengthen the teeth to reduce this risk. In fact, this simple treatment can actually reduce your child’s risk for developing cavities by 30 percent. That is certainly significant, especially when you consider that this treatment is cheap and easy for them.

#3 – Dental sealant

If we notice that your child has deep ridges on the chewing surfaces of their teeth, we may recommend that to place dental sealant on them. A dental sealant is a plastic-like substance that we place onto the teeth. It only takes a couple of minutes per tooth, but once it hardens, it creates a barrier that will prevent food and plaque from actually touching the teeth. As a result, food will not get stuck, children can easily brush their teeth, and their overall oral health will drastically improve.

To keep your family in good oral health, visit our dentist office for a children’s dental cleaning today. We will clean their teeth, examine them, and then discuss the preventative care solutions that we recommend. We will also spend time showing your child how to brush and floss properly while discussing healthy choices they can make for what to eat and drink on a daily basis.