At Just 4 Kids Pediatric Dentistry and Sedation, our staff works with your child to make exams easier and less intimidating. Our child-friendly, fun atmosphere helps keep him or her relaxed before and during exams and teeth cleanings, making the entire process less stressful your child… and you.
Our Pediatric Dentistry staff has special training in working with children and their growing mouths and teeth. Beginning with the first visit, we involve your child in the exam, allowing them to look at the instruments used during a checkup and explain what happens during the exam to make it less scary.
When to Schedule Dental Exams
Your child’s first dental exam with our Pediatric Dentist in Midlothian VA or Chester VA should be scheduled soon after his or her first tooth erupts and by their first birthday, based on the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Subsequent appointments should be made every 3-6 months.
What Happens During an Exam
Your child’s first visit will consist of an exam, fluoride treatment, and if age-appropriate, a teeth cleaning and x-rays. The dentist will check all of your child’s existing teeth for decay, examine his or her bite, gums, and jaw. If needed, the dental staff will clean your child’s teeth. For younger patients, you will be with your child during the visit, and may be asked to hold your child to make he or she is more comfortable.
During future exams with our Pediatric Dentistry, the dental team will clean your child’s teeth and monitor the eruption of new teeth and the growth of your child’s jaw and mouth. Fluoride treatments will be administered every 3-6 months as recommended by the AAPD.
After each dentist visit
After every visit, the dental team will meet with you to discuss the condition of your child’s teeth, mouth, gums, and jaw, as well as how to care for your child’s teeth. You should expect to discuss:
- Good oral hygiene practices, including brushing and flossing, that are age-appropriate for your child
- Oral habits, such as thumb sucking and lip sucking, and the impact they can have on your child’s teeth and jaw
- Comfort practices, such as taking a bottle to bed
- Treatment options, including fluoride and the use of sealants to protect against decay and cavities
- Developmental milestones and teething
- Nutrition
- Your child will begin receiving x-rays around age 3 to monitor the growth of their adult teeth and identify any potential problems. As your child gets older, the dentist will discuss any potential orthodontics or other care required.
Older children and teenagers will have the opportunity to talk directly to the dentist about issues that are important to them. These include the need for teenagers to manage their own dental hygiene care and the importance of a healthy diet to dental health. In addition, the dentist will talk to your child about sealants, missing teeth, oral piercings, tobacco use, teeth whitening, and work with them on any restoration or orthodontics that is required during this time.