Early dental care visits are encouraged after your child’s first birthday and include a regular check-up and cleaning every four to six months. In addition, other services are often a part of an early dental care treatment and prevention plan discussed in this review.
Early dental care services may vary for each practice based on each dentist’s focus and specialty. However, there are more common services that you can expect when visiting a dentist that offers early dental care services. These notably include diagnostic, preventive, educational, restorative, and early orthodontic services.
Diagnostic services for early dental care are not the same as diagnostic services for adults. Diagnosis in children is less about looking for oral health issues based on symptoms and more about simply understanding the child’s oral health in general. There are rarely oral health issues to address during the toddler age. Common diagnostic services for early dental care include:
As mentioned, perhaps the primary goal of early dental care is to prevent oral health concerns now as well as in the future. Dentists can help reduce the risk of many oral health issues through preventive services. These preventive services include:
Educational services aim to equip parents and the child with the information they need to prevent oral health concerns and recognize them if they develop. Educational services may include a simple discussion on each child’s oral care routine visit and what improvements they and we can make. It also includes providing dietary information. We may also advise on how to prevent dental trauma in the future (i.e., the importance of a mouthguard).
The goal is to prevent the need for restorative procedures. However, in some cases, the need for restoration may still be in order. Common restorative procedures include but are not limited to:
Dental practitioners do not recommend orthodontic care before the age of 8 or 9. However, before orthodontic services, such as braces and clear aligners, some services and treatments can help; these services are referred to as “early orthodontic care.” We typically recommend early orthodontic care for six- or seven-year-old children who may be at a higher risk for misaligned jaw and teeth. Notable early orthodontic care services include palatal expanders and early braces, among other possible recommendations.
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You can schedule a dental visit with us today if your child is due for their first visit (or if they are due for their next follow-up visit). You can feel confident that your child will feel confident and comfortable during their visit with us. We take steps to ensure our office is kid-friendly, and we have a staff that understands how to communicate effectively with young children.
Request an appointment or call Grand Parkway Pediatric Dental at 832-579-0960 for an appointment in our Richmond office.
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