Extra Gentle Care for Their Gums and Teeth
Children need regular dental visits, just like adults, and routine cleanings and exams are key to maintaining their oral health and supporting healthy development. A professional teeth cleaning removes plaque, tartar, and bacteria that can lead to cavities, gum disease, and chronic bad breath, as well as impact the alignment of adult teeth. A kid-friendly hygienist can also clean areas that brushing and flossing at home might miss.
After the cleaning, it’s the perfect time for a thorough check-up by the hygienist and dentist, who will assess your child’s oral health, monitor baby teeth, and ensure adult teeth are developing properly. You’ll receive personalized advice for at-home oral care tailored to your child’s needs.
Routine Pediatric Teeth Cleanings and Exams Help:
- Keep baby teeth and emerging adult teeth healthy and strong.
- Prevent gum disease and support overall oral health.
- Track progress and milestones through various changes.
- Build a positive, comfortable relationship with the dentist.
- Encourage kids to care for their oral health at home.
- Establish lifelong healthy habits.
What Happens During Children’s Teeth Cleaning?
Before the check-up, we’ll review your child’s dental history to spot any issues or patterns. We might take X-rays if needed and discuss options like fluoride treatments or sealants for new adult teeth. Our team will use kid-friendly language to ensure your child feels at ease and will ask how they feel about their teeth, encouraging any questions or concerns they may have.
Gum Health
Healthy gums are key to your child’s smile, as they support teeth and help prevent inflammation. Since kids can get gum diseases just like adults, we’ll check their gums closely and provide tips for flossing and gum care that are easy for them to follow at home.
Plaque & Tartar Removal
Plaque is a sticky film that forms on teeth as soon as they emerge, and if not cleaned regularly, it hardens into tartar. Plaque and tartar can cause tooth decay and are difficult to remove, especially between teeth and along the gumline. A hygienist uses special tools and techniques to gently scale away plaque and tartar from those hard-to-reach spots. After a thorough cleaning, a fluoride treatment may be recommended to strengthen your child’s enamel.
Watching for Milestones
The dentist will review your child’s chart and any recent X-rays to identify potential concerns, patterns, or developments. Children typically get their first teeth between 6 months and 6 years old and will continue to lose baby teeth and gain permanent teeth into their teens (or later, for wisdom teeth). Since every child’s dental development is unique, the dentist will closely monitor their progress and address any concerns or delays as they arise.
Cost of a Routine Pediatric Teeth Cleaning and Exam in Halifax
Routine checkups for kids are an excellent way to prevent dental issues, which is why most insurance plans cover them almost entirely. With standard insurance coverage, the cost for a pediatric cleaning and exam can range from $0 to $50, with most plans providing coverage every six months. Without insurance, the cost may range from $120 to $300 or more, especially if it’s your child’s first visit or if they haven’t had a checkup in a while.
When determining the cost of treatment, we consider several key factors:
- Your child’s current oral health.
- The need for any new X-rays.
- Fluoride treatments or sealants for emerging adult teeth.
- The time required by the dental team to address specific needs.
- The necessary equipment and supplies to provide comprehensive care.
Remember, it’s not possible to provide an exact quote over the phone. For a personalized assessment or an itemized quote, we’re happy to assist upon request. Routine pediatric dental care is essential for your child’s health, as keeping track of their oral development is the best way to prevent potential complications that could be both painful and costly.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
We typically recommend children come in every six months for a cleaning and checkup, just like adults. Some families prefer visits every three months, but waiting longer than a year between cleanings is not advised.
Don’t wait. If you notice any concerns about your child’s oral health, it’s best to schedule a visit immediately to catch and address any minor issues before they worsen.
Children may not always express dental discomfort, so watch for signs like:
- Touching or cupping their face and mouth
- Hesitation or fear when others approach their mouth
- Swelling, redness, or discolouration of gums, cheeks, or teeth
- Fever, which can accompany a toothache
- Avoiding hot, cold, hard, or chewy foods
- Chewing on only one side of their mouth
- General irritability or mood changes
Typically, teeth cleaning for kids lasts between 30 minutes to an hour. Appointments might run longer if your child is anxious, has many questions, or requires extra comfort and reassurance.
- Start brushing as soon as their teeth come in, using age-appropriate toothpaste and brushes.
- Teach them proper oral care, including brushing twice a day.
- Use fluoride treatments at the dentist and fluoride products at home to protect their teeth.
- Limit sugary or acidic foods and drinks like juice and pop, especially before bed.
- Be a role model—brush and floss your own teeth regularly to set an example.
Your child should wait at least 30 minutes after a fluoride treatment before eating or drinking, allowing time for the fluoride to effectively coat and protect their teeth.
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