Extra Gentle Care for Their Gums and Teeth
Think of your mouth like a well-maintained machine. Regular dental visits are like essential tune-ups. Even with good brushing and flossing, some spots are hard to reach. Kids, like adults, need regular cleanings to remove plaque and tartar—those can cause cavities, gum disease, and bad breath. Seeing the dentist ensures your adult teeth come in correctly and stay healthy. A kid-friendly hygienist can clean those tough spots you might miss. These visits are key to keeping your smile bright and your mouth healthy as you grow.
Once the cleaning is done, it’s a great opportunity for the hygienist and dentist to take a close look at your overall oral health. They’ll identify any problem areas, monitor baby teeth that are coming in or falling out, and ensure adult teeth are settling in properly. We’ll provide guidance on what to keep an eye on and offer personalized tips and tricks for taking care of your teeth at home.
Routine pediatric teeth cleanings and exams help:
- Ensure baby teeth and new adult teeth stay healthy and strong.
- Prevent gum disease and support overall oral health.
- Track their dental progress and milestones through various changes.
- Foster a positive relationship with the dentist.
- Encourage kids to take responsibility for their oral hygiene at home.
- Build lifelong healthy habits.
What Happens During Children’s Teeth Cleaning?
We start off by having a friendly chat with your child to make sure they’re comfortable. We’ll ask how they feel about their teeth and mouth, and if they have any questions or anything they’d like to share. Next, we take a look at your child’s dental records to identify any issues or patterns that need attention. We might recommend an X-ray or discuss protective treatments like fluoride or sealants for their new adult teeth.
Gum Health
Gums play a crucial role in supporting your child’s teeth and shaping their smile, yet they’re often overlooked. Good gum health is vital as permanent teeth emerge, and children are just as prone to inflammatory gum diseases as adults. During our examination, we pay close attention to the soft tissues of their mouth. We also provide age-appropriate advice on flossing and caring for their gums at home.
Plaque & Tartar Removal
It’s tough to keep every nook and cranny in your child’s mouth clean, especially between teeth and along the gumline. Plaque is a soft, sticky film that starts building up on teeth from the moment they emerge. If not regularly cleaned, it can harden into tartar, which is much tougher to remove. Our hygienist masterfully removes plaque and tartar from tricky spots with a gentle touch, ensuring every part of your child’s mouth is thoroughly cleaned. After we’ve got their teeth sparkling clean, we typically suggest a fluoride treatment to really strengthen their enamel and keep their smile healthy.
Watching for Milestones
Typically, children get their first set of teeth between 6 months and 6 years old. Every child is unique in their dental development. As they grow, they gradually lose their baby teeth and gain their permanent adult teeth. The dentist will review your child’s chart and any new X-rays to identify problem areas, troubling patterns, or new developments that need monitoring. They will keep a close eye on your child’s progress and address any concerns or delays they spot to ensure healthy development.
Cost of a Routine Pediatric Teeth Cleaning and Exam in Guelph
Just like with adult checkups, regular dental visits for kids are crucial for heading off any potential problems early on. Most insurance companies get this and usually cover these routine visits almost entirely. With typical insurance, you’re looking at paying anywhere from $0 to $50 per visit, which is pretty manageable. They generally cover these visits every six months unless there’s a special situation. If your patients don’t have dental insurance, the costs can be a bit higher. For those first appointments, or if it’s been a while, you’re looking at anywhere from $120 to $300 and up.
When figuring out the actual cost of a child’s dental treatment, we consider a few key factors:
- Their current oral health status.
- Whether new X-rays are needed.
- The need for fluoride treatment or sealants for new adult teeth.
- The time required by the dental team to address their specific needs.
- The equipment and supplies necessary to provide comprehensive care.
Given these considerations, we can provide a more accurate estimate for their treatment plan. It’s important to understand that no dentist can provide an exact quote over the phone. For an itemized quote or more personalized information, we are happy to assist you upon request. Providing children with routine pediatric dental care is crucial. Regular check-ups allow us to monitor the changes in their mouths as they grow, which is the most effective way to prevent costly and painful dental issues in the future.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
For children, regular dental checkups are crucial. We typically recommend bringing them in every six months for a cleaning and examination, unless the dentist suggests a different schedule. Some families prefer more frequent visits, however, it’s important not to wait more than a year between appointments to ensure their oral health is properly maintained and any issues are caught early.
No need to wait. If something’s worrying you about your child’s teeth, bring them in right away. Catching and fixing small problems early can prevent bigger issues down the line. We’re here to help, even between regular checkups!
Young children often don’t know what level of discomfort is normal and might try to cope without saying anything. Here are some signs that your child might be experiencing dental pain or sensitivity:
- Excessive touching or cupping of their face and teeth.
- Being defensive or scared to let others near their face and teeth.
- Swelling, redness, or discolouration of the gums, cheeks, or teeth.
- Running a fever, which can sometimes accompany a toothache.
- Avoiding hot and cold foods and drinks.
- Steering clear of chewy or hard foods like raw veggies and chunks of meat.
- Only chewing on one side of their mouth.
- Becoming irritable or glum without an apparent reason.
Typically, a children’s teeth cleaning appointment lasts between thirty minutes to an hour. However, if your child has a lot of questions or feels anxious and needs extra reassurance, the appointment may take a bit longer. We make sure to provide the time and care needed for your child to feel comfortable and at ease.
- Start early by brushing your child’s teeth as soon as they appear, using child-friendly toothpaste and brushes.
- Teach them about oral hygiene and make brushing twice a day a fun routine.
- Fluoride treatments at the dentist and using fluoridated water at home can strengthen their teeth.
- Limit sugary and acidic foods and drinks to prevent tooth decay, especially avoiding sweets before bed.
- Be a role model by brushing and flossing your own teeth daily, showing them how important it is!
After a fluoride treatment, it’s important for your child to wait at least 30 minutes before eating or drinking. This allows the fluoride to effectively strengthen their teeth without being disrupted by food or drinks.
Start flossing as soon as your child has two teeth that touch. Introduce this habit early to prevent cavities and gum issues. Assist them until they’re around 8 to 10 years old and can floss independently using kid-friendly flossers.
Children can start using alcohol-free mouthwash around age 6, when they can swish and spit it out properly. Always supervise to ensure they use it correctly.
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