Dental Cleaning/Prophylaxis
Dentists recommend dental cleanings for kids about twice a year to prevent disease and advanced tooth decay. At these appointments, your pediatric dentist looks for early symptoms of oral health issues. With an early diagnosis, the treatments are less invasive and less expensive. For a comfortable, preventative kids dental cleaning, call Tiny Smiles Pediatric Dentistry in Woodbridge, New Jersey or in Harlem or the Lower East Side, Manhattan.
What Is Kids Dental Cleaning?
Prophylaxis is professional dental cleaning, an in-office dental procedure to remove the mineralized build-up of plaque and tartar. Dentists recommend the kids dental cleaning procedure at least twice a year to halt the progression of dental diseases and tooth decay.
Bacteria-rich plaque above or below the gum line causes irritation and inflammation of your child’s gum tissue. As a result, the teeth may develop cavities, the gums may pull away from the teeth, and the area may become infected. If left untreated, your child may suffer tooth loss and possible body-wide infections. On the Lower East Side of Manhattan, in Harlem, NY or in Woodbridge, NJ, at Tiny Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, board certified dentists offer:
Comprehensive teeth cleaning. Your family dentist uses the right tools to administer a deep cleaning of your child’s teeth. During a professional teeth cleaning, the dentist identifies teeth surfaces that need more attention and catches signs of serious conditions, such as oral cancer, diabetes and even kidney problems.
Reduced dental irritation. Professional dental cleaning removes stubborn plaque that may be causing gum irritation. The dentist catches infections early, before they cause pain. Your child enjoys clean teeth and a healthier mouth.
Brighter smiles. Good-looking teeth boost your child’s self-esteem and self-confidence. Your pediatric dentist performs procedures to improve your child’s smile, including discoloration or misalignment.
Treatment for chronic bad breath. Poor oral health can lead to gum infections and tooth decay below the gum line, both of which may cause halitosis. During professional dental cleaning, the dentist removes the plaque build-up to eliminate the causes of chronic bad breath.
Promotion of oral health. Your children learn to develop good oral health habits, such as brushing and flossing to promote oral health. The dentist provides guidelines for your kids to follow.
Cost savings. By investing in dental cleaning for your child today, you prevent greater dental expenses in the future. Root canal treatments and crowns, for example, are much more expensive than cleanings.
Regular dental cleaning can prevent future oral health issues while ensuring your child has a bright, healthy smile. The pediatric dentists at Tiny Smiles Pediatric Dentistry love working with children to promote better oral health.
What Does Kids’ Prophylaxis Involve?
Kids dental cleaning occurs during a regular dentist visit. Prophylaxis is lighter than the type of deep cleaning needed after a diagnosis for a severe periodontal disease. Depending on the age of your child, the doctor may use an electric prophy brush, ultrasonic scaler or a hand instrument during the procedure. The general steps involved in the procedure include:
The dentist probes your child’s teeth and gums using a periodontal probe. The dentist is checking for symptoms of decay, periodontal disease and failing restorations.
A top pediatric dentist also looks for symptoms of other oral conditions in the gums, face, neck, lips, tongue, jaws and throat. The screening can identify issues such as teeth grinding and canker sores.
X-rays may be necessary to reveal damage caused by periodontal disease below the gum line. The dentist evaluates the images to assess bone or gum recession. X-rays are part of preventive and diagnostic procedures.
Often performed by a trained dental hygienist using scaling tools to clean the area above the gum line. The procedure removes mineralized plaque and tartar that has built up over time.
These procedures are needed only when there’s evidence of subgingival bacteria or decay. If required, the dentist thorough cleans the area beneath the gum line to remove build-up from pockets in the gums, where food particles get trapped. Then, the dentist smooths the tooth root to eliminate bacteria and prevent the progression of periodontitis.
After the dental cleaning, your dentist or hygienist may perform a fluoride varnish treatment to protect and strengthen the tooth enamel.
More and more parents are opting to give their kids’ teeth a dental sealant, which protects the teeth for longer periods.
After the dental cleaning, your family pediatric offers custom oral health guidelines for your children to encourage oral health.
The dentists at the dental practice in Woodbridge, NJ and in Manhattan,
NY use the latest technology in dentistry for comfortable, yet effective dental procedures.Regular dental cleanings are not painful. If your children don’t practice healthy habits and you don’t take them to regular check-ups, the price may be a deeper cleaning that is both more expensive and more invasive.
What Can I Expect from a Dental Cleaning?
When you visit a dentist for dental cleaning, you can expect:
- A consultative session so the dentist understands your child’s dental issues
and symptoms - An evaluation of your child’s health
- Examination of your child’s teeth, gums and inner cheeks
- Possibly x-rays of your child’s teeth
- A review of the dentist’s findings
- A painless at-office procedure done in a comfortable setting
