Preventive & Diagnostic Services

Routine dental visits are recommended every six (6) months to prevent cavities and other dental problems. We will meet with you and your child to monitor their dental health, educate you about common pitfalls, correct any issues before they become a larger concern and continue building a base of good dental habits. Consistency is crucial to ensure your teeth stay healthy and your smile stays beautiful.

Fluoride is a natural substance that helps strengthen teeth and prevent decay. Fluoride treatments are administered at this office as an important component of pediatric dental treatment. The fluoride is applied to the teeth in a varnish form.

We strongly believe in being proactive about preventing tooth decay. Our pediatric dentists recommend sealants for teeth that have a high susceptibility for developing cavities. A sealant is a clear or tooth colored resin material that is applied over deep grooves on the chewing surfaces of the molars. This material serves as a barrier to food, plaque, and acid, protecting the teeth from decay. 

Dental X-rays are a valuable diagnostic tool used to identify decay, extra teeth, bone defects, tumors, cysts and check the progress of previous procedures. Advances in technology now allow for digital X-rays, which reduce radiation exposure more than 50 percent, and produce instant, high-quality images that can be viewed immediately by the dentist and the patient.

During a regular check-up, oral hygiene instructions are given to both patient and parent. Good home care can reduce the risk of plaque and tartar build-up which can lead to cavities. Instructions include proper techniques for brushing, flossing, and using mouth rinses.

If your child is interested in participating in recreational sporting activities, it is safe to assume the possibility of injury at one time or another. This is why it’s a good idea to supply your child with a properly fitted mouth guard or mouth protector to use during activities where a blow to the face or mouth is possible. Usually this applies to all team sports and certainly all contact sports. 

Using a mouth guard is an easy way to prevent broken teeth and injuries to the lips, tongue, face, or jaw. It’s also important to make sure the mouth guard fits properly, staying in place during movement and allowing your child to talk and breathe normally. 

Ask our team about a fitting for a custom mouth guard or for recommendations for ready-made options. 

Xylitol has been recognized by the AAPD for the benefits it brings to the oral health of infants, children, adolescents, and people with special health requirements. It appears in nature in small amounts, being found in fruits, berries, mushrooms, lettuce, hardwoods, and corncobs. 

Research has shown that using xylitol consistently as a sugar substitute or dietary addition has an extremely positive effect on curbing new tooth decay, and in some cases, can even reverse existing dental caries. Xylitol’s most notable characteristic is that it enhances all existing prevention methods for tooth decay, with long lasting and possibly permanent effects. 

Mothers who start using xylitol gum (2-3 times per day) beginning 3 months after delivery till their children turned two experienced 70% less cavities in the first five years after giving birth. 

An easy way to incorporate xylitol in your child's diet is to use gum or other products made from 100% xylitol. These can be found at local heath food stores and online.