Prevention
At Paediatric Dental Home we help children prevent dental problems with regular check ups, dental cleaning and fissure sealants.
Regular dental check ups
We recommend regular six-monthly check ups for children. However, some children who are at a higher risk of getting cavities may need more frequent visits and we will advise if this is necessary for your child. At the check up appointment, we will check for any signs of dental decay, oral hygiene, gum health, eruption of teeth and jaw development.
Radiographs (x-rays) may be needed at your child’s dental appointment. We take x-rays only when it is necessary and we will advise you if your child needs them. Dental x-rays are very safe and your child is exposed to a very minimal amount of radiation.
Read more about what to expect from your first visit.
Dental cleaning
We carry out dental cleaning by polishing the teeth with a special paste. We also sometimes refer to this type of cleaning as prophylaxis. Dental cleaning removes soft food deposit on teeth called plaque. If your child needs help learning how to clean his or her teeth properly, then we can use a special coloured dye to show you and your child the location of plaque. If we see any hard deposits, called tartar or calculus, on the teeth, then we will complete a scaling treatment with our special “water toothbrush”.
Fissure sealants
Some children’s teeth have deep grooves and pits which can make them more likely to experience dental decay. We identify these teeth and advise the placement of fissure sealants.
Fissure sealants are white or clear plastic coatings that we place on the teeth in order to prevent future dental decay. Fissure sealants are non-invasive and simple to place. Commonly, molar (baby and or adult) teeth tend to have deep fissures and we recommend fissure sealants if we think they will be beneficial for your child’s teeth. Fissure sealants can last up to few years. However, when sealants wear down with time then they can be repaired or re-done as needed.
