Because every smile matters in Hattiesburg, MS

Pediatric Preventative Care

Baker & Graham Family Dentistry, preventative care, gum disease treatment, sedation dentistry, endodontic treatment therapy, cosmetic dentistry, restorative dentistry, family dentistry, Implants, Sleep Apnea, Tongue & Lip Tie, Clear Aligners, Botox, TMJ, Cerec Same Day Crowns, Pediatric Dentistry, dental implants, cerec dental crowns, dental veneers, teeth whitening, orthodontics, traditional braces, clear aligners, pediatric dentistry, laser dentistry, general dentistry, dentures, preventative dentistry, dentist in hattiesburg MS, Dr. William Baker Jr., Dr, Erik Graham, 4216 Lincoln Rd, Hattiesburg, MS 39402, Main Line: 601-268-3333, New Patients: 601-265-7575 home
Baker & Graham

Overview

Preventative dental care is essential for everyone – especially your little ones. By starting good oral hygiene habits early and scheduling regular checkups with your dentist, you can help keep your child’s smile bright and healthy for many years to come. Here are our most common preventative treatments, as well as a few simple ways that you can manage your child’s oral health at home.
Regular Exams and Cleanings

Regular exams are an important part of maintaining your child’s oral health and their total body health. During their regular exam, we will check for any problems that you may not be able to see, look for cavities and other signs of tooth decay, and provide a thorough teeth cleaning.

Per the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s recommendation, we suggest that your child see us as soon as their first baby teeth erupt, or by their first birthday.

Regular exams take about 45 minutes and we recommend one every six months. These visits give you a chance to talk to your dentist about your child’s oral health and create a detailed treatment and prevention plan for in between appointments. Regular exams are offered by appointment only.

Sealants

Sometimes brushing is not enough, especially when it comes to those hard-to-reach spots in the back of your little one’s mouth. It is difficult for a toothbrush to get in between the small cracks and grooves on your teeth. If left alone, those tiny areas can develop tooth decay. Sealants give your child’s teeth extra protection against decay and help prevent cavities.

Dental sealants are a plastic resin that bonds and hardens in the deep grooves on the tooth’s surface. When a tooth is sealed, the tiny grooves become smooth and are less likely to harbor plaque. With sealants, brushing your teeth becomes easier and more effective against tooth decay.

Sealants are typically applied to children’s teeth as a preventive measure against tooth decay after the permanent teeth have erupted. It is more common to seal “permanent” teeth rather than “baby” teeth, but every patient has unique needs, and your dentist will recommend sealants on a case-by-case basis.

Sealants last from three to five years, but it is fairly common to see adults with sealants still intact from their childhood. A dental sealant only provides protection when it is fully intact, so if your child’s sealants come off, let your dentist know, and schedule an appointment for their teeth to be re-sealed.

Fluoride

Fluoride is super effective in preventing cavities and tooth decay and in preventing plaque from building up and hardening on the tooth’s surface. A fluoride treatment in your dentist’s office takes just a few minutes. After the treatment, patients may be asked not to rinse, eat, or drink for at least 30 minutes in order to allow the teeth to absorb the fluoride. Depending on your child’s oral health or your doctor’s recommendation, you may be required to bring your child in for a fluoride treatment every three, six, or 12 months.

Treating Decay

In the event that damage or decay does form on any of your child’s tooth, we will perform the necessary procedures to remove it and prevent the decay from further damaging the affected tooth or spreading to other teeth. The most common treatments are fillings, wherein the decay is removed from the tooth and replaced with protective materials such as gold or porcelain to prevent future damage. Crowns or metal caps are also commonly used for children to protect badly damaged baby teeth and prevent the damage from effecting the underlying adult teeth.
At-Home Care
Taking proper care of your child’s teeth in between dentist visits is crucial in preventing damage and decay. We strongly recommend incorporating the following steps into your child’s daily routine:
Baker & Graham Family Dentistry, preventative care, gum disease treatment, sedation dentistry, endodontic treatment therapy, cosmetic dentistry, restorative dentistry, family dentistry, Implants, Sleep Apnea, Tongue & Lip Tie, Clear Aligners, Botox, TMJ, Cerec Same Day Crowns, Pediatric Dentistry, dental implants, cerec dental crowns, dental veneers, teeth whitening, orthodontics, traditional braces, clear aligners, pediatric dentistry, laser dentistry, general dentistry, dentures, preventative dentistry, dentist in hattiesburg MS, Dr. William Baker Jr., Dr, Erik Graham, 4216 Lincoln Rd, Hattiesburg, MS 39402, Main Line: 601-268-3333, New Patients: 601-265-7575 home
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