When it comes to your child’s smile, at Shirer Family Dentistry, we are pleased to offer services catering to their best oral health. We offer a fun kids’ corner for them to enjoy while they wait for their appointment with Drs. Michael or Susannah Shirer. We also offer in-room television for them while they relax comfortably during their treatment.
We encourage having preventative dental checkups and cleanings twice a year for your child as well as for yourself. Keeping their primary teeth healthy is crucial to laying a healthy foundation for their permanent teeth to come in. It is also an opportunity to spot problems early on when they are easiest to treat and to help create good dental habits with them.
During their visit, we will remove plaque and tartar deposits around their teeth and gumline. Their teeth will also be flossed and polished and any signs of dental conditions will be noted and addressed. Dental X-rays may be used to help assess your child’s smile to help us keep tooth decay and gum disease away. One of the ways we do this is by offering dental sealants after your child’s cleaning.
Sealants
Your child’s molars, which rest in the back of the mouth, are hard to clean, which means they are magnets for trapped food and oral bacteria that increases their risk for cavities. To prevent this, our dentists may apply a dental sealant after a cleaning. This tooth-colored resin is painted onto the grooves of the molars to provide a smooth surface for the pits and fissures of the tooth. This seal keeps out oral debris so that teeth cleaning is easier. Sealants are recommended for your child’s primary and permanent teeth and can be done in just one short visit.
Fluoride
Another way we protect your child’s teeth during a checkup and cleaning is with a fluoride application. Fluoride helps protect tooth enamel from the sticky film of plaque which contains bacteria, sugars, and acids that erode enamel. Fluoride remineralizes tooth enamel and strengthens teeth. This naturally occurring mineral helps to protect the teeth against decay. Normally found in your local water supply, it is also in a variety of foods including pickles, tomato products, spinach and grape juice. You can also get it from a toothpaste containing fluoride. But sometimes additional fluoride protection is needed to stop cavities. After your child’s dental cleaning, our dentist may recommend a professional fluoride treatment.
Sports Guard
If your child participates in sports or other high-impact recreation, our dentists usually recommend wearing a protective mouth guard to prevent injuries from occurring — chipped or broken teeth, or soft tissue injuries to the cheeks, gums, and lips. Our dentists offer custom-made athletic mouthguards or sports guards for patients of all ages. These are designed to fit comfortably over your child’s teeth while they engage in physical activities, including hockey, football, rugby, wrestling soccer, basketball or baseball.
If your child needs a dental cleaning and checkup or some other dental treatment, please call our team in Aiken, South Carolina at 803-648-6400 today to schedule an appointment!