Did you know that your child’s routine preventive dental checkups aren’t just meant for finding cavities? In reality, your child’s dentist has a few different things they need to take care of and check for during these biannual visits – which is all the more reason you should be certain your child is attending them in the first place. To learn more about a few of the things that’ll be occurring during these routine checkups, continue reading below!
1. Comprehensive Examination
Your child’s dentist’s primary goal is ensuring that their dental development is on a positive trajectory, and to do this, they must ensure that issues like cavities, gum disease, etc., are not present. During each visit, they will carefully inspect every nook and cranny of your child’s smile, including their teeth, gums, tongue, salivary glands, and throat; they must be quite thorough to ensure there are no problems present. Believe it or not, dental problems can affect more than just the teeth!
2. Detailed Cleaning
This is the part that most patients picture when they think about visiting the dentist, and for children, it might also be what causes them to feel anxious. However, dental cleanings performed by a pediatric dentist are gentle in addition to being effective; this is important since children often haven’t fine-tuned their oral hygiene habits yet, meaning they may still be vulnerable to cavities.
3. Oral Cancer Screening
Oral cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, capable of indiscriminately affecting adults and even children. However, it’s thankfully also one of the easiest to treat – when it’s caught early on. This is why during each visit, your child’s dentist will always perform an oral cancer screening to search for any early signs of the disease.
4. Checking for TMJ Issues
If your child has ever complained about jaw pain or headaches, or even difficulty biting and chewing certain foods, it might be a sign of a TMJ issue. During your child’s checkup, their dentist will also examine their bite and the shape of their teeth for any evidence of TMJ issues like bruxism, or teeth grinding.
In addition to what’s listed above, your child’s dentist and their staff will do everything they can to ensure a smooth and positive experience for your child; after all, making it so they feel happy about having to come back again in six months will only make them more inclined to care for their smile!
About the Practice
Our team here at Kids’ Smiles on Lincoln has proudly served the needs of families in Worcester and the surrounding area for several years, offering a wide selection of pediatric dental services for children of all ages. If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to schedule a checkup and cleaning for your child, please feel free to reach out online or call today for more information or assistance. Telephone: (508) 290-0090.