Checkups and Cleanings – McKinney, TX
Preventing Problems From the Start
When preparing your child for an upcoming dentist appointment, it can be difficult, especially if they express fear or anxiety over their pending visit. At Sprout Dentistry for Kids, both Dr. Justin and Dr. Sage understand this common situation, which is why you and your child can expect a welcoming, calming, and inviting environment the moment you walk through our doors. Using gentle hands and a calming demeanor, we will not only thoroughly check their teeth, gums, and bite development, but we will make sure your child’s oral and overall health are in good shape and that their dental checkups and cleanings in McKinney have them excited to come back. To schedule an appointment, call our office today.
Why Choose Sprout Dentistry for Kids for Checkups and Cleanings?
- Fathers First, Board-Certified Pediatric Dentists Second
- A Focus on Oral and Overall Health
- Sedation Dentistry Available to Increase Comfort
Why Regular Dental Checkups and Cleanings Are Important?
Good oral health should start at an early age. Parents are told to use a washcloth to gently clean their baby’s gums prior to any teeth erupting. Once the first tooth pushes through the gum line, it is the role of the parent to ensure it stays healthy and strong. As your child grows older, the goal of attaining optimal oral health cannot be reached by just brushing and flossing at home. It’s imperative that you make sure your child sees their dentist every six months for a regular checkup and cleaning.
Children are often more prone to tooth decay and cavities because of their novice oral hygiene skills, limited motor skills, and let’s be honest, most kids like to eat lots of sugar and other foods that are not only bad for their health but their teeth, too. Without proper at-home dental habits and regular visits to a pediatric dentistry in McKinney, their teeth, gums, and overall well-being can be negatively impacted.
What Can Your Child Expect During a Dental Checkup and Cleaning?
No matter the age of your child, you can rest assured that Dr. Justin, Dr. Sage, and the dental team at Sprout Dentistry for Kids will provide your child with the highest level of quality care. Unless our dental professionals recommend a different timeframe, you can expect to bring your child in every six months to see us.
Checkups and Cleanings for Toddlers
For your spunky and energetic toddler, it will be necessary that you begin bringing them into our office as soon as their first teeth appear. During the appointment, we will gently examine their teeth, gums, and bite, making sure they are comfortable the entire time. Once the examination is complete, we will thoroughly clean their teeth, apply topical fluoride, and offer tips and advice on how to take care of their pearly whites at home. This is the age in which good oral hygiene and nutritional diets are formed, so we will take the necessary time to ensure both you and your child have the information you need to practice proper at-home dental care.
Checkups and Cleanings for Children
As your child begins to lose their baby teeth and permanent ones erupt, we will be carefully monitoring their progress and development to ensure their mouth stays problem-free. During these appointments, we will continue to examine their teeth, gums, and bite, checking for any signs of tooth decay or gum disease. Our team of skilled dental hygienists will effectively remove any plaque and tartar buildup from their teeth and gums, and apply topical fluoride keeping their teeth protected from cavities. In addition, we will be looking for any problem areas that might signal the possibility of future orthodontic work.
Checkups and Cleanings for Teens
Once your child’s permanent teeth are firmly in place, you’ll begin to notice that their schedule is making it much harder for you to get them to see us. From school, practice, homework, and don’t forget friends, you’ll need to make sure you have them in to see our team once every six months, but we’ll make the process efficient so that you can get back to your busy schedule. Dr. Justin or Dr. Sage will begin by thoroughly checking for any problems that may exist before ensuring your teen receives professional teeth cleaning. Because we know how important it is for teenagers to have bright and shining smiles, we can also work to remove minor surface stains on the tooth enamel.
As your child moves into adulthood, should any problems exist, we will design a customized treatment plan to take care of the issue before it worsens. Along the way, we will take care to provide dental sealants and fluoride treatment to strengthen their tooth enamel and protect their teeth from tooth decay.
What is a Radiation-Free Decay Detection Tool?
As part of your child’s visit to our dental office, we are pleased to provide valuable information about the tools we use to improve their oral health. Advancements in technology have made it possible for dentists to offer more accurate results, as well as perform faster, more effective procedures. It has also made it easier and more comfortable for patients during their visits.
At Sprout Dentistry for Kids, we use a radiation-free decay detection tool that allows our team to effectively detect cavities that are normally unseen by the naked eye. Using a high-magnification intraoral camera, we can identify areas of decay even in the smallest spaces. This eliminates the need to poke or prod in your child’s mouth.
Some of the benefits of using this type of tool include:
- No radiation emitted
- The camera allows dentists to see through a tooth, detecting fractures, defects, and decay
- More effective than a traditional exam
- Greater accuracy in locating and addressing problems of decay as an adjunct or alternative to radiographs
What about Fluoride?
As fellow parents, Dr. Justin and Dr. Sage understand your desire to always do what you feel is the best for your child. Dr. Justin and Dr. Sage aim to educate and empower parents and children to understand how to improve their oral and overall health. With the extensive, published, reproducible research and data available, Sprout Dentistry for Kids believes in the safety and efficacy of optimized fluoride levels in preventing dental decay and are happy to provide supporting literature. We will always advocate and inform you of what we feel is in the best interest of your child’s health. However, we respect that some parents do not feel comfortable with the use of fluoride. In such instances, where parents opt to refuse topical fluoride treatment, we may recommend one of our wellness plans that provides a more cost-effective means for more frequent checkups and professional cleanings to offset any increased risk of dental decay due to lack of fluoride treatment.