Coping with Chronic Health Conditions: Tips

Coping with Chronic Health Conditions: Tips

What Dental Procedures Does Your Kid Need?

by Freddie Cox

Just like adults, kids need regular dental care too. However, there are some treatments that kids need more than adults, and some treatments that need to be started early for best results. If you would like to know more, check out these four dental procedures your child may need.

1. Sealants

Molars are great at grinding up food to make it easier to digest. However, they also have lots of crevices and pits in which plaque can gather. Even with regular brushing and flossing, your child may miss some of the plaque hidden in these groves.

Sealants are like a thin, invisible barrier that better protects your child's teeth, especially the molars. They don't require any tooth tissue to be removed, and they fade away on their own. Your child's dentist will check the status of the sealants during each visit and apply new sealants as needed.

2. Fluoride Treatments

Fluoride is a naturally forming mineral that can benefit teeth by strengthening the tooth's enamel. With strong enamel, your child's teeth are better equipped to block against sugar, acid, plaque, and bacteria.

Many cities add fluoride to the drinking water, but if your area does not, or your dentist thinks your child needs more fluoride, treatments can be given in the form of gel, foam, or varnish. You may also want to use a fluoridated toothpaste.

3. X-Rays

X-rays are used to see what's going on under the gumline. This can help dentists determine if there is something wrong with the tooth's root, an infection, an impacted tooth, etc. When it comes to kids, X-rays can also be used to monitor the incoming permanent teeth.

The permanent teeth already reside in the gums, so the dentist can get a good look before they start to erupt. This allows them to spot any future problems so treatment can begin early.

4. Space Maintainers

Primary teeth help your child eat and speak, but they are also space holders for permanent teeth. Permanent teeth typically grow as the primary tooth falls out, so they can slide right into place. However, if your child loses a primary tooth too early, such as from decay, the surrounding primary teeth start to slide over to fill in the gap.

This poses a huge problem when the permanent tooth starts to erupt and there isn't enough room. The tooth may twist, grow sideways, or cause overcrowding. Space maintainers are devices that hold the space open for the future tooth.

If you want to better care for your child's oral health, talk to their dentist about possible procedures to protect and monitor teeth. if you would like to know more about pediatric dental care services, contact a pediatric dentist in your area today.


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About Me

Coping with Chronic Health Conditions: Tips

Ever since I was a young girl, I have had bad asthma and allergies. I had to stay in the hospital several times when I was in elementary school just to help get my asthma under control and it seemed like I was trying medication after medication with little success. I don't remember all of my childhood health details, since I was so young, but my mother has "filled in the blanks" for me. Thanks to modern medicine and a natural remedy, my health conditions are currently under control and have been for a few years now. I am very grateful for my good health, and I want to "pay it back" to others by creating a blog where I will post my health tips. I hope I can help you learn how to achieve good health!