Preventative Dentistry in Wichita
Better health through regular visits.
Exams & Preventative Dentistry are Crucial
Our pediatric dentists in Wichita, KS, believe that preventative care should start with the arrival of the first tooth – this is central to keeping young smiles in their strongest, natural condition! We recommend that you bring your child to see us around their first birthday and that visits be scheduled every six months.
Early prevention helps provide parents and children with education about brushing, flossing, and nutrition. Beginning early can help us discover dental concerns that may help you save time and expense.
During your kid’s dental exam, we will be evaluating:
To help evaluate your child’s health, our team use digital and panoramic x-rays. These modern radiographs produce less radiation and provide our dentists with clear images of your child’s mouth.
Keeping kids’ mouths healthy can even help improve their overall health and performance in school!
Our trio of Wichita pediatric dentists team up with moms and dads to care for the oral health and development of infants, children, adolescents, and special needs patients in Wichita, KS.
Keeping teeth and gums clean and free of bacteria, plaque, tartar, and other build-up is a big part of maintaining healthy smiles for life. That’s why we encourage consistent and regularly scheduled visits.
During these visits, we will:
Your child will leave with a bright smile he or she can be proud of. We’ll also offer helpful suggestions for improving their at-home routine.
Start by establishing a good routine for yourself and allow your child to watch you brush and floss.
You can clean your baby’s gums with a wet cloth even before teeth have erupted. This not only clears away bacteria, but it also helps your child get used to the idea of having his or her mouth cleaned.
Children do not have the dexterity to brush satisfactorily by themselves until around the age of seven (when they can write in cursive or tie their shoes), so please brush your children’s teeth for them.
Even if your child wants to brush by themselves, allow them to do it in the morning, and you continue to brush and floss at night. It is important to brush daily, even if there is some resistance from the child.
Use a timer to help you keep track of how long your older child has been brushing. It is a useful tool for older kids who are transitioning into brushing on their own.
Flossing can be done before or after brushing. Sometimes flossing first makes it easier to remember.
It is crucial to floss because the toothbrush cannot clean all surfaces. Even if you are brushing well, the “sugar bugs” can stay between the teeth and cause cavities. Daily cleaning of the teeth, gums, and tongue will help prevent bad breath, cavities, and gingivitis.
We recommend using a fluoride mouth rinse for kids over the age of five or six. Do not use a mouth rinse until your child can spit effectively.
A good tip is to let your child choose a special toothbrush. This can make brushing seem like a celebration. Playing a special song or finding a fun video about tooth brushing can be helpful too. Some of them are even timed to two minutes, so you always brush the right amount of time! Here’s a great one we found.
Sealants
It can be difficult for our young patients to reach all surface areas when brushing their teeth. One area which is more susceptible to decay is the back molars. These teeth are difficult to reach with a toothbrush and often have pits or fissures on their surface. Food debris can become stuck in these pits causing decay to develop. However, with dental sealants, this isn’t the case. Our special clear gel fills the pits and hardens, making hard to reach areas easy to brush!
Silver Diamine Fluoride
Our pediatric dentists in Wichita, KS want to stop cavities in their tracks. Fluoride treatment is a proven method to prevent cavities from forming, and silver diamine fluoride is an amazing tool to use. The powerful ingredients in this fluoride help kill bacteria, rebuild tooth minerals, and protect your child’s health.
