As you may already know, it is recommended that you visit the dentists office every 6 months, starting as soon as your first teeth come in. But do you know why that is? Visiting the dentist regularly is extremely important to maintain healthy teeth and gums, especially for children, as their oral structure is still developing. You should still practicegood oral hygiene, but going to the dentist is still important to catch any problems early on and make sure that your child is meeting all their milestones.

Dental exams are usually pretty routine. The appointment will probably follow the same order each time, so you dont have any surprises to worry about. At Little Heroes Pediatric Dentistry, the entire time your child is in our chair, they can watch their favorite movies. We have TVs on the cieling in every room!

One of the most important parts of the exam is cleaning and checking your child’s teeth for decay. After the assistant is done cleaning, taking pictures, and taking x-rays, the dentist will come in to polish your child’s teeth and take a careful look around to see if there are any signs of cavities. Hopefully, they dont need a filling, but if there is a cavity it's important to catch it early, before it turns into greater decay and a possible infection! The dentist will also evaluate your child’s gum health and their risk of diabetes, oral cancer or vitamin deficiencies. They may also check their bite, face, saliva and the movement of their lower jaw joints.

They also take note of the amount of tartar and plaque build up, as excessive amounts of these sediments can be indications of poor oral hygiene or other serious issues. Soft plaque can solidify on your child’s teeth and irritate their gum tissue if it is not removed. It can also lead to gum disease if not treated.

Once the dentist is done with their checks, the assistant will finish up the cleaning, talking to you about how to maintain good oral hygiene practices to limit chances of decay. Your child will get their own free toothbrush to take home.

It is important to remember that by seeing your pediatric dentist regularly and keeping up daily good hygiene at home, you are a lot more likely to keep your child’s gums and teeth healthy, also setting them up for good oral health practices in the future.