Good Oral Health Habits Start Early
While children aren’t born with a natural fear of the dentist, they often feel anxious about the unknown. At NuSmile Dental, one of our top priorities is to help your child develop and maintain a positive association with dentists early in life. As such, we do everything we can to create a pleasant and supportive environment for your child, starting with their first dentist visit. Our super-friendly dentist and dental team are trained and experienced in all aspects of providing gentle pediatric dentistry to ensure your child’s oral structures develop properly and dental decay is prevented. Whether your child needs preventive or emergency care, an extraction, or gum surgery, we deliver pediatric dentistry in Saratoga Springs, UT with a gentle and caring touch. It’s incredibly satisfying to help children maintain a happy healthy smile, watch them grow up, and continue to provide them with top-quality dental care when they’re adults!
What to Expect at Your Child’s Dental Visits
An optimal time for an initial dental visit is when a child’s first tooth erupts, which is typically no later than age 1. We want you and your child to feel at ease from the moment your family arrives at NuSmile Dental. Since every child is unique, we customize each appointment based on your child’s age, needs, and cooperation level. Our goal is to gain their trust and establish good rapport so they like visiting us and even enjoy brushing their teeth. If you have any questions or concerns, we’re here to answer all of them. In general, this is what you can expect at pediatric dentistry appointments in Saratoga Springs, UT.
Step 1: Examination
Our family dentist Dr. Jeremy Thompson will complete a thorough examination of your child’s mouth. Depending on your child's age, the visit may include a full exam to check tooth development and check for signs of decay. For children with permanent teeth, we’ll also likely take digital x-rays using an intraoral camera. If Dr. Thompson notices that a child suffers from tongue-tie or lip-tie, we’ll discuss this and schedule a frenectomy. This is the clinical term for the simple 10-15 minute surgery that alleviates this problem. Although NuSmile Dental doesn’t offer orthodontics, we’ll refer you to a top-rated specialist if we think an older child may benefit from a space maintainer or orthodontics.
Step 2: Discussion
Prior to your first visit, we welcome any questions you have about our practice so you know what to expect. Doing so will help alleviate any concerns you have and also help you prepare your child for their first visit. During your visit, we encourage you to discuss any concerns you have about your child’s oral health. For example, we’d like you to tell us about potentially bad habits your child has developed (e.g. thumb-sucking) and we’ll tell you ways to help resolve this. As parents, you play an important role in helping your child establish a proper oral health routine at home, including limiting sugary drinks and sweets, so we view you as part of our team.
Step 3: Cleaning
Our caring hygienist will gently clean your child’s teeth to remove any plaque that accumulated from eating and drinking. Afterward, we may show you and your child how to brush and floss at home. If your child is age 3 or older, we encourage you to help them brush twice a day using fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush. Many apps and videos are available that teach proper tooth brushing in fun and engaging ways.
Step 4: Sealants
Dental sealants are recommended in children ages 6 to 12 as soon as their permanent molars come in. Depending on your child’s age, we usually offer fluoride treatment and or dental sealants in Saratoga Springs, UT as part of their routine preventive care. Sealants are applied to the surface of back molars to fill natural crevices and prevent bacteria from accumulating and causing cavities. These fast and painless treatments can help your child’s teeth stay strong and healthy.
Treating Kids Comes Naturally to Our Family-Friendly Dentist
They’ll grow up smiling at NuSmile Dental!
Schedule an appointment with our kid-friendly dentist today.
