Start the New Year Right with a Professional Dental Cleaning

Professional dental cleanings not only leave your child’s teeth polished and bright, but they help prevent early childhood tooth decay and gum disease.  Preparing your child for what to expect during a dental cleaning can help reduce any dental fears they may feel beforehand. Avoid oral health pitfalls and create good oral care habits early on.  Partnering with  Li’l Sunshine Smiles offers you the support you need for giving your child excellent oral education and care.

Learn more about our dental cleanings or schedule an appointment, by calling our Tampa office today at (813) 576-0200.

Dr. Cat will assess your child’s overall oral health during the dental cleaning and exam appointment to get ahead of issues that can lead to tooth decay and other issues.

Professional dental cleanings are an integral part of your oral healthcare plan.  Help your child retain his white smile will working with our team to prevent oral cancer, gum disease, and tooth loss.  The Academy of General Dentistry recommends that a professional dental cleaning occurs at least twice a year to support oral health wellness.

What to Expect at Your Child’s Professional Dental Cleaning

Prepare your child for his professional dental cleaning by briefly discussing what will happen.  The two most common questions we hear are 1) will it hurt; and 2) how long will it take.

First, no, professional dental cleanings shouldn’t hurt.  The only time this may not be the case is if the child has tooth sensitivity from tooth decay or gingivitis and/or excessive tartar that requires a more thorough removal process.

Furthermore, the time spent in the dental chair is minimal with the average professional dental cleaning only taking between 30 minutes to an hour.  Here is more information about the different steps involved in the cleaning process:

• Medical History Review.  Because your child’s health history can change between one appointment to the next, cleanings and exams begin by reviewing your child’s current health history.  Some health conditions (and  medications) can affect the health of your child’s teeth and mouth.  Keep us in the loop if there are any changes to his health condition.
• Teeth Polishing.  Kids love getting their teeth polished.  It feels like a tooth massage and includes a fun-flavored polish gel. The slow-speed hand-piece is used to gently clean and polish your child’s teeth.  After, your child’s teeth will have their original brightness and smoothness.
• Tartar Removal.  Tartar is thick, hardened plaque and must be removed by a dentist with professional ultrasonic dental tools. During the cleaning process, tartar is removed above and below the gumline to prevent gum disease and tooth decay. Sometimes this part of the dental cleaning process can be uncomfortable if the child has inflamed gums from excessive tartar. Our experienced team will work to keep your child as comfortable as possible while insuring their teeth and mouth are protected.
• Periodontal Health Evaluation.  Gum disease is a tricky one becase you often don’t experience any real pain until it has progressed to a point where you can’t reverse the damage.  That is why at every cleaning and exam we do a thorough peridontal health evaluation. This includes measuring the depth of gum pockets, seeing if there are any bleeding sites and assessing bone loss.  This sid one with digital x-rays, gentle probing and observation.
• Occlusion Check.  Teeth shift with time and can move enough to affect how your child’s bite functions.  Misaligned teeth can cause teeth to collide or jaw issues if the bite is too affected.  Dr. Cat will make sure your child’s teeth are currently fitting together as they should.  If teeth shifting is found to be severe, we can refer you to an orthodontist.
• Fluoride Treatments.  Fluoride applications strengthen the enamel of your child’s teeth.  And they may be applied using a foam, gel or a varnish form.

Call to Schedule a Professional Dental Cleaning Today

Professional dental cleanings are an essential part of your tooth decay prevention plan. Help your child maintain tooth health and support a bright, white smile by scheduling one today.

To learn more about our dental cleanings, or to schedule an appointment, call our Tampa office today at (813) 576-0200.