CHILDREN’S PREVENTIVE DENTISTRY WATERFORD

The Most Valuable Care for a Smile Is Prevention

Mother giving her daughter a piggyback ride after preventive dentistry visit

Although Dr. Joe offers a variety of other dental services for children, one of his priorities is to provide thorough children’s preventive dentistry in Waterford. As a board-certified pediatric dentist, his goal is to foster healthy oral development by preventing the progression and formation of oral health issues like cavities. One of the ways our team is able to do this for your child is by offering a number of preventive services, like the ones below. Call our office today to schedule your child’s routine dental checkup and cleaning with us!

Why Choose Son Shine Pediatric Dentistry for Kid’s Preventive Dental Care?

  • Pediatric Dentist Who Respects Parent’s Time
  • We Accept & Maximize Dental Insurance & Medicaid
  • Caring, Compassionate Dental Team

Dental Checkups & Teeth Cleanings

Young girl in dental chair smiling at her dentist

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends bringing children in every six months for routine checkups and cleanings with a pediatric dentist. These visits will include a thorough examination of their teeth and gums as well as an in-depth discussion with parents to address any concerns they may have. This can be especially helpful when children start teething! Finally, our team will remove all plaque and tartar from the surface of the teeth, finishing off the cleaning by polishing and flossing them.

Oral Cancer Screenings

Young girl having her mouth examined by a dentist

While oral cancer is extremely rare in children, according to the National Cancer Institute, Dr. Joe and our team make sure no stone goes left unturned when it comes to your little one’s health. That’s why our team will conduct a quick, pain-free tactile examination of your child’s mouth to make sure no abnormalities are present.

Fluoride Treatment

Child in dental chair having fluoride applied to their teeth

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that’s produced by rocks and found throughout nature, like in the air, soil, and fresh fruits and vegetables. It’s also added to local water sources as a means of cavity prevention due to its ability to strengthen dental enamel, which is the outermost, protective layer of teeth. If your child could benefit from a little extra fluoride, we can place a fluoridated foam onto their teeth following their dental checkup and cleaning.

We also offer silver diamine fluoride, which is an FDA-approved method of arresting cavities in children without needing a tooth-colored filling. Dr. Joe will simply brush the liquid onto the tooth showing signs of decay, and it will help fight the bacteria, stop the spread of the cavity, and strengthen the tooth to prevent the problem from arising again in the future.

Dental Sealants

Close up of dental sealants being applied to the teeth

Cavities are the top dental health concern among children, as they’re still establishing a good, daily dental hygiene routine at home. Dental sealants offer peace of mind for parents and extra protection for teeth by acting as umbrellas to keep food debris and plaque from settling in the grooves of molars, eventually causing cavities to form. The treatment is fast and pain-free, and the sealants will continue protecting your little one’s teeth for years to come!

Non-Nutritive Oral Habits

Child sleeping while sucking their thumb

“Non-nutritive habits” is just a fancy umbrella term for natural habits that develop out of a need for children to comfort themselves, like thumb- and pacifier-sucking. While these are healthy and positive, children do reach a certain age where, if they haven’t naturally broken these habits, it could affect their oral development. Dr. Joe offers helpful guidance to parents to help children break these habits before they result in orthodontic issues or can influence your child’s jaw and palate development.