Preventive Dentistry – Cumming, GA
How We Keep Your Child’s Teeth Shining
The best way to deal with any type of dental problem is to prevent it altogether, and at Village Pediatric Dentistry, we have a wide range of services designed to do exactly that! Regular visits to the dentist are especially important for children because they are still learning the basics of oral hygiene at home, but with our efforts here, we can ensure that they avoid pesky cavities and gum disease so they can spend more time focused on what’s important—just being a kid! To schedule your child’s next visit with us for preventive dentistry in Cumming, GA, contact us today.
Why Choose Village Pediatric Dentistry for Preventive Dentistry?
- Team Led By Multiple Board-Certified Pediatric Dentists
- Happy to See Children of All Ages
- Open All-Day Saturday
Oral Health Risk Assessment
Around the time that your child turns one, their first little tooth should appear. At this point, it’s time to go to the dentist! We can give your child a thorough oral health risk assessment to make sure their smile is starting on the right foot. If we notice anything, we can use gentle, conservative treatment to prevent problems from developing in the first place, making sure that your little one’s smile only becomes bigger and more beautiful as time goes on.
Teething
Teething can be a trying time for parents and children alike, but there are a few ways to make this period a little easier for everyone. Rubbing aching gums with a clean finger can be very soothing for children, and there are also a variety of teething toys that can be chilled and chewed on to help the process along. If you ever have any questions about teething or what you can do to make it as comfortable as possible, you’re always welcome to give our team a call for suggestions!
Thumb/Finger-Sucking
When a baby sucks their thumb or finger, it’s absolutely adorable, but if these habits continue once a child’s teeth start coming in, they can lead to a lot of trouble. Continually sucking on something can cause the teeth to misalign and even hamper the development of the jaw. Having trouble getting your child to stop? You’re not alone! We can offer you strategies that have helped countless other children quit in the past, and for the most stubborn children, our sister-practice, Serenity Orthodontics, can even place a small appliance called a thumb crib temporarily in the mouth that will enable your child to naturally break the habit.
Dental Checkups & Teeth Cleanings
Your child should start attending regular checkups and cleanings at least twice a year starting around age two or three. At first, these visits will mostly consist of an exam and our team showing you and your child the best ways to take care of their smile at home. Eventually, a professional cleaning will become part of the routine, where a hygienist will meticulously remove harmful plaque and tartar from their teeth, eliminating the root cause of cavities.
Dental Sealants
If a child is going to develop a cavity, the most likely place you’ll find it is among the back teeth. These teeth are shaped and grooved in such a way that they easily trap plaque and bacteria, plus they can be difficult for little hands to adequately brush thanks to their location. With dental sealants, however, we can give these vulnerable teeth the extra protection they need. We simply apply a thin layer of clear dental plastic to the enamel, and this creates an invisible barrier that cavity-crossing factors cannot penetrate.
Athletic Mouthguards/ Sportsguards
Whether your child is just starting to play team sports or is already a star at their school, absolutely every child should be wearing a mouthguard whenever they hit the field, mat, or court. This will keep their teeth, lips, and gums safe in case of an unexpected (or expected!) impact. Rather than giving your child a “one-size-fits-all” appliance from the store, we can offer them a mouthguard that is custom-made just for them. This will not only help it provide higher-quality protection, but it will also be more comfortable, meaning your child will be more likely to actually use it!
Oral Cancer Screenings
While it is exceedingly rare, it’s still possible for a child to develop oral cancer. Thankfully, this disease is very treatable when detected early, which is why we take a few minutes during every appointment to screen for it. If we find a suspicious sore, growth, or lesion, we can help a child get a diagnosis and start treatment (if needed) immediately, ensuring a fast and complete recovery.
Fluoride Treatment
Regular fluoride exposure is great for smiles of all ages, but it’s especially helpful for children. In addition to strengthening the enamel and lowering the risk for cavities, fluoride can also aid in the development of a child’s adult teeth even before they come in. After every dental cleaning, we’ll coat your child’s teeth with a highly-concentrated fluoride gel to give them a boost of protection, and if needed, we can provide fluoride supplements as well.
Silver Diamine Fluoride Treatment
If a child has an active cavity, silver diamine fluoride enables us to quickly stop it, preserving the affected tooth while also protecting the nearby teeth. The silver instantly kills the harmful bacteria responsible for the decay, while the fluoride fortifies the enamel. This allows us to treat cavities without having to use injections or a drill, which our little patients and parents certainly appreciate! It can also help with extreme dental sensitivity.
Gum Disease Treatment
Without proper oral hygiene, a child’s teeth can develop cavities, but their gums are also at risk of a bacterial infection called gum disease. Early symptoms include redness, swelling, sensitivity, and gums that easily bleed during brushing and flossing. We can provide a special cleaning to remove plaque and tartar from below the gum line to stop the progression of the infection, and then we can show you and your child how to take care of their teeth at home so gum disease won’t become a problem in the future.
Sleep Apnea Screening
Does your child snore whenever they sleep? Are they tired all the time despite getting enough rest? Or, are they consistently hyperactive? These are all symptoms of childhood sleep apnea, a condition that is much more common than you might think! We can assess your child’s airway to see if there are any indications of sleep apnea, and if needed, we can recommend treatment that will enable them to breathe better, sleep better, and enjoy much more focus throughout the day.