Checkups that help kids stay cavity-free

A first visit by age one

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a first dental visit by a child's first birthday, and we love meeting babies early. It gives us a chance to talk about feeding, brushing, and habits before a cavity ever has a chance to form, and it means your child has a dental home if an emergency comes up. Here's what the first visit looks like.

Exams and cleanings

Cleanings are done by our certified pediatric dental hygienists, followed by an exam with one of our pediatric dentists. We add a fluoride treatment to strengthen the enamel, and children can eat soon after they leave. Every visit includes time to talk about brushing, flossing, and diet — practical tips, not lectures.

An airway screening is part of every checkup

Each checkup includes a look at how your child is breathing, sleeping, and growing. Mouth breathing, snoring, and a narrow palate are easy to miss and much easier to guide early. If something is worth a closer look, we'll explain what we see and whether an airway-focused orthodontic evaluation makes sense.

Digital X-rays

X-rays let us see between teeth, where cavities often start, and check the bone and gums. We use digital X-rays, which need far less radiation than film, and we only take them when they'll tell us something useful. For children with a strong gag reflex or a lot of anxiety, we can take some X-rays without placing anything inside the mouth.

Sealants

The back molars have deep grooves that toothbrush bristles can't reach, which is where most children's cavities begin. A sealant is a thin protective coating that fills those grooves. There's no drilling and no shot: we clean the tooth, prepare the surface, and paint the sealant on. Most insurance plans cover some or all of the cost, and we'll check yours before the appointment.

If a cavity does happen

• Tooth-colored fillings, often done with our laser and no shot
• Zirconia crowns — strong, natural-looking, tooth-colored crowns for front or back teeth
• Stainless steel crowns — a durable, cost-effective choice for baby molars
• Silver diamine fluoride to stop a cavity without drilling when that's the better fit
• Extractions and space maintainers when a baby tooth can't be saved, so the adult tooth still has room

A note on pacifiers

Pacifiers are a real comfort in the early months. Used well past the first year, though, the steady pressure can narrow the upper jaw and push the front teeth forward, and it can affect speech. We suggest weaning between 6 and 12 months when you can, and avoiding pacifiers with plush toys or other weight attached, which add force on the growing palate. If weaning is a struggle, ask us — we have ideas.

Second opinions

We're happy to offer consultations and second opinions on dental treatment, feeding concerns, breathing and airway questions, and orthodontics.