Oral Examination and Parent/Child Education:
Our office believes that the first step in preventing oral health problems in your child is being more informed. Dr Mbibi and her staff make it a priority to inform parents about changes that can be made at home or at school that can help alleviate potential oral health problems. At your first visit, Dr Mbibi and her staff will go over your child’s diet, and hygiene habits; then with your participation, we will make a plan that would lead to a better oral health for your child.
Dental cleaning (Dental prophylaxis):
Dental cleaning removes and prevents the accumulation of plaque, calculus, and staining around the teeth and gums. This helps reduce your child’s risk for cavities, gum disease and other oral infections. In office teeth cleaning can be done with a manual tooth brush, “electronic” rubber cup, metal hand instruments (to scrape calculus), or ultrasonic (to remove plaque and calculus); the modality for your child’s cleaning will be determined based on the age of your child, cooperation, and the extent of tarter build-up.
Dental cleaning also help’s introduce your child to dental treatment, and gets them comfortable with routine oral health care. Thus setting your child up for a lifetime of a happy and healthy smile.
Digital X-rays (Less Radiation and Specially Sized for Smaller mouths)
Not every child needs dental x-rays. X-ray recommendations are made based on your child’s age, risk of getting cavities, stage of dental development, history of dental trauma, or on an “as needed basis” after oral evaluation. These x-ray recommendation are to ensure that the best and most comprehensive dental care is provided to your child.
Fluoride:
Studies have shown that topical fluoride contributes to a decrease in the number and frequency of cavities. As explained in the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) guidelines, epidemiological data has shown that cavities has been reduced 55-60% over the last half century due to fluoride in community water. However many community water supplies are not fluoridated, and/or some families don’t drink filtered tap water. To aid in cavity prevention, fluoride application is recommended at your dental check-up visit.
Please understand that fluoride is most effective at preventing cavities on the smooth surfaces of the teeth, but not as effective at preventing cavities in deep grooves of the molars: sealants are recommended for deep grooves (see below).
Tooth Colored Sealants:
The chewing surfaces of the back molars have deep crevasses and pits on them that trap food and bacteria. Even in patients that are meticulous with their oral-hygiene and have a diet low in sweets, these crevasses are at a higher risk for getting cavities because micro-food particles and cavity-causing bacteria can stay in them for a prolonged period of time, causing decay. Please understand that fluoride is most effective at preventing cavities on smooth surfaces of the teeth, but not as effective at preventing cavities in these grooves.
In other to cover those food and bacteria retaining grooves, sealants may be recommended to your child after their dental evaluation. Sealants are recommended on a case by case basis, as everyone’s molars do not have deep grooves.
Routine Dental Check-up:
It is important to establish and maintain routine dental check-ups for your child. This helps to establish and maintain good oral health habits, and receive appropriate preventive care. It is recommended that the first dental care be as early as 6 months of age and no later that 12 months of age. After your child’s dental check-up, a re-appointment time, usually within the next 3-months or 6-months, will be established based on your child’s needs.
Please understand that if your child is older than 12 months old and has never been to a dentist, it’s never too late. Dr Mbibi and her staff are happy to provide a comfortable dental home for you and your child regardless of your child’s past dental history.
Mouth Guards:
We encourage kids to have fun and be active. However, there’s always a risk of un-intentional accidental injury during play. We recommend that children participating in active sports wear mouth guards to protect the teeth, gums, and other oral tissues from accidental bruising, injury and/or fracture. A mouth guard works by absorbing and dissipating force at the site of impact. Our office provides custom-fabricated mouth guards that fits your child perfectly and provides superior comfort, protection and retention.
