Kids need routine care to help protect their teeth from cavities and infection, and these regular visits also help instill good oral health habits. In addition, our team also provides unique treatments to help protect little smiles, including fluoride and custom athletic mouthguards. In today’s blog, your Austin, MN, dentists look at children’s dentistry.
Fluoride Treatments and Dental Sealants
Cavities not only cause discomfort, such as tooth sensitivity and toothaches, but could also lead to painful infections, premature tooth loss, and an increased risk of misalignment as your child grows. To help lower the risk of cavities, we may suggest a fluoride treatment. We apply a special varnish to the teeth during six-month checkup visits. The fluoride strengthens the outer enamel, which is why we also suggest using fluoride toothpaste at home.
Since food caught between the rear molars is often difficult to remove with brushing and flossing for kids, we can also place a dental sealant. A sealant is a special acrylic coating we add to the rear teeth. Once in place, the sealant provides a layer that prevents food from becoming stuck between the teeth. The layer stays in place for between 5 and 10 years on average, and wears away with time.
Custom Mouthguards
Playing sports is a great way for kids to stay healthy and make new friends. However, with sports comes the risk of injury, including cracked, chipped, or even knocked-out teeth. Fortunately, we have an option to help keep them safe. We will take detailed impressions and measurements of the smile, using them to create a custom athletic mouthguard that fits snugly over the teeth, providing a greater level of protection than store bought alternatives.
Routine Visits
We would like to see your child at least once every six months. A checkup and cleaning visit means we keep a close eye on the smile, watching for signs of issues like tooth decay, gingivitis, or teeth not falling out/erupting on schedule. We then address these issues before complications arise that harm overall oral health. The cleaning helps by removing all plaque and tartar from the surfaces of the teeth, preventing issues like tooth decay and gum inflammation from arising. If you have any questions about our approach to children’s dentistry, then contact our team today. We want to help your entire family enjoy strong, healthy smiles for many years to come!
YOUR AUSTIN, MN, DENTISTS PROVIDE CHILDREN’S DENTISTRY
We want to help your little ones enjoy strong, healthy smiles with routine preventive care both at home and at our practice. To learn more about our approach to children’s dentistry and family care, then schedule an appointment with the Potach and Mitchell Dental Clinic, contact our Austin, MN dental office today by calling 507-437-6312. Our office welcomes patients from Austin, MN and surrounding communities.
