Well, the main reason is the prevention of tooth decay. Not only can unchecked tooth decay lead to more serious problems like cavities (caries), the gum disease gingivitis, or even tooth abscess – all important issues in themselves – but can negatively affect your child’s development, too.

People need healthy teeth for a lot of reasons from eating and speaking to communication and learning – these are all things that are incredibly important for a growing child. Poor oral health can wreak havoc on their confidence too: they may be afraid to smile for fear of showing damaged teeth, for instance. All this means that, in order to prevent highly preventable dental problems from developing, it’s vital to find the best ped dentist (pediatric dentist) for kids that you can!

If you’re looking for a pediatric dentist in Clackamas county and the surrounding areas – from Milwaukie, up to Portland and Tigard and beyond – there are certain crucial services you should make sure are provided before setting up an appointment for your kids dentist.

Read on to learn exactly what these are and what they entail, and how we work them into our own practice here at Dr. Kasey’s office in Clackamas.

Regular 6-month Dental Exams

Tooth care is an ongoing process. As nice as it might be to visit a dentist once and have perfect dental health for a few years, that’s just not realistic!

A good rule of thumb is for children (and adults) to visit their dentist or pediatric dental office at least twice each year, as this interval allows the doctor to catch problems before they become more developed and difficult to treat.

Twice-yearly visits are also important for the maintenance of existing measures: for example, a filling could develop into a cavity within 6 months to a year.

Therefore, any good dentist should recommend and provide checkups for your children at least twice each year – this is a staple of kids’ pediatric dentistry.

Fortunately, insurance providers tend to cover exactly two dental visits per year. Here in Oregon, Medicaid (known as Health Share of Oregon) allows bi-yearly visits for children. 

Tooth Cleaning and Polishing

Tooth cleaning and polishing will clear your child’s teeth of plaque, which is what leads to tooth decay when allowed space and time to grow.

Referred to as prophylaxis, getting your child’s teeth professionally cleaned twice each year will greatly reduce the risk of cavities and other mouth diseases, forming an excellent supplement to regular brushing and flossing. 

Low Radiation Digital Radiographs

Digital X-rays allow a dentist to get a clear picture of what’s going on inside your children’s teeth, which helps nip problems in the bud before they develop.

In digital x-rays, images are transmitted directly to the office’s computers, and – as compared to traditional x-ray methods – radiation is reduced by around 90 %, which is hugely important since it can have negative effects on a child’s bone growth. Low radiation digital x-rays are fairly common in most pediatric dental offices in recent years, although any dentist who does not offer this safe method isn’t worth your time. 

Fluoride Treatments

You’ve probably heard of fluoride and its importance for tooth health – any toothpaste you or your child use should be fluoride-based. 

Many people get fluoride from drinking water, too – however, here in Oregon the amount of fluoride in our water is not as high as other parts of the country. 

As such, any good dental office in Clackamas and the surrounding areas should offer supplementary fluoride treatments in the form of varnish or foams. These treatments can help build up the strength and resistance of your child’s teeth to acids. We offer a fun selection of flavors as well to make the experience more enjoyable for your child.

Brushing and Flossing Instruction

Your child’s habits at home are just as important as those twice-yearly visits to a knowledgeable dentist that’ll form the foundation of their dental health regimen. As such, a good dental office should teach them just which habits to develop

For example, they should brush their teeth at least two times a day, typically after waking up in the morning and before going to sleep at night. It may be tough to get your kid to floss, but it should be done at least once every day.

Making sure your child develops good habits with brushing and flossing tends to spill over into other areas of their lives, too. For example: did you know excellent oral health in children is linked to better performance in school? This may sound strange, but it makes sense if you consider that both revolve around having good habits!

Dietary Counseling

The next piece of the proper oral health puzzle is diet. Arguably the most important element in your child’s dental health is the time spent away from the dentist, making smart and healthy choices!

It’s no secret that kids love sugary foods and drinks, and no wonder: they taste great! However, an unhealthy diet is probably the one factor most responsible for the fact that around 50 % of children in the country have tooth decay.

Any good pediatric dental office should provide your child with easy to understand dietary information that they can incorporate into their lives when they leave the dental chair. Of course, good dietary habits will benefit not only your child’s oral health but their overall health as well!

A Fun Atmosphere

Let’s face it – sometimes it’s tough to get your kids to any doctor’s office, dentist included. Pediatric dental offices should do their best to create a fun, welcoming atmosphere that your child may even be a bit excited about going to! From our toddler friendly waiting area packed with fun toys and books, to tablets for the older children, we’ve tailored the entire experience to put even the most nervous kiddos at ease.

Pediatric Dentist with Gentle Touch/Care

It goes without saying that a kids dentist who works with children should be, well, good with children! They should have a focus on children and understand that many might be a bit apprehensive sitting in the dentist’s chair, doing all they can to put them at ease. This is one of our primary focuses here at Dr. Kasey’s office.

Special Needs and Communication

Every child is unique, and we here at Dr. Kasey’s office do everything in our power to meet the needs of your children. We have experience working with children with a range of conditions and disabilities and are able to communicate with you beforehand so that we can make your child as comfortable as possible when at their appointment.

A Professional and Caring Staff

The last thing you need on your child’s first visit to the dentist is a rude staff – dental offices should provide top-quality, courteous, and friendly service. Our staff strives to do just that, servicing healthy smiles with smiles.

Nursing/Baby Bottle Instruction

If you have a newborn, you’ll know that nursing or using bottles can get more difficult once your child’s teeth start to grow in. In fact, improper nursing or baby bottle usage can actually lead to teeth decay way before your child is eating solid foods.

That’s why it’s important to find a dentist who can offer instruction as to how to avoid these issues and, since they’re so central to early childhood, any pediatric dental office worth visiting should be able to do so!

Thumbsucking/Pacifier Counseling

Thumbsucking in children is common – it’s normal for newborns and the very young and will usually stop on its own. However, sometimes it doesn’t stop and can cause certain issues including – you guessed it – damage to teeth.

The same is true if pacifiers are used too often. The ideal kids’ dentist will be able to teach you how to help your child move on from thumbsucking and pacifiers so their teeth develop in as healthy a way as possible.

Sealant Application

Sealants act as a form of preventative care, creating a barrier between gums and tooth enamel. They are sometimes necessary and can provide protection to certain cavity-prone areas (for instance, if cavities keep popping up in the same area of a child’s mouth). Any good children’s dentist will have a lot of experience with sealants (trust us).

Sports Safety Instructions

Participating in sports can give kids some of their best memories. Unfortunately, there’s always a risk of injury to various parts of the body, teeth included. A good pediatric dentist should be able to give helpful advice to a child so that they know how to prevent mouth injuries and – of course – be on standby should injury occur.

Wrapping Up

All of the above services are provided at Young Kidz Dental and Dr. Todd’s office. We hope you can see some of our healthy dental ethos and dedication to top-quality care throughout this post, resulting in our position as one of the top pediatric dental offices in the Clackamas, Portland, Milwaukie, and Tigard area.

No matter which dentist you choose, be sure they provide – at the very least – the services and qualities explained in this article. Working with the best dentist for kids from the get-go means establishing a firm foundation for dental health throughout their lives!  We know how you feel and strive to meet your expectations of providing the very best for your loving child or children.  

The post How to Pick the Best Clackamas Oregon Dentist for Your Kids appeared first on Young Kidz Dental.