Dentistry for Kids
Lake Oswego, OR
Dentistry for Kids provided by Dr. Carly Petersen
in Lake Oswego, OR at The Dentist on Boones Ferry
 Parents naturally want to see their kids have healthy teeth and gums. However, many kids are not aware of how oral health and oral care plays into that. The Center for Disease Control points out that tooth decay or cavities are the number one oral problem that present in kids. Tooth decay leads to a high number of toothaches in kids. Besides, many kids miss school because of cavities. It can also make it challenging for children to speak, eat, and engage in normal activities. Our team at The Dentist on Boones Ferry advises that you bring your child in for oral exams and care as early as possible.
What to Expect
One of the important things that our dental team emphasizes is early assessment of the mouth. Your child could have oral problems that need correction in the days ahead. There may be some dental issues that can be resolved during an early assessment. Things like wearing braces or Invisalign may not be done right away when you bring your child into our office or for early assessment. However, we can detect problems like misalignment and continue monitoring them over time to see when it is necessary to receive teeth alignment treatment. Sometimes, misalignment of the bite may resolve itself with time.
Apart from early assessment, we also do routine checkups. The earlier we begin to understand any oral health problems your child may have, the better it is because we are able to offer solutions based on what we observed earlier. Routine checkups involve cleaning the mouth and checking for any issues of concern. Often, kids find it difficult to maintain their oral care. Our dentist provides dental cleaning to take out plaque and tartar and reduce bacteria in the mouth.
During routine examinations and cleanings, we determine if your child’s gums and teeth are developing as usual. We may take x-rays if we suspect there may be dental issues that we cannot see or are hidden below the gums. Decay between teeth may mask itself and cannot be seen with the naked eye. In such incidents, x-rays play a crucial role because they provide a comprehensive view of the internal structures and hidden dental problems so that they do not continue causing harm to your child’s bite.
During the exams, our dentist is able to catch impacted teeth and determine if they are likely to cause problems. If there are cavities in teeth, our dental team does filling to restore the function and strength of teeth.
Something that is overlooked by many is the nutrition aspect of our dental health. You know that kids crave sugar, but it is a big culprit for cavities. Our pediatric team provides nutrition guidelines so that your child continues to develop healthy, strong teeth as well as gums.
One of the challenging things that kids face is keeping up with brushing and flossing. We provide dental sealants so that we give protection to the back teeth from dental plaque or cavities. Sealants are painted on teeth. Additionally, we provide fluoride application, which may be in the form of a varnish, gel, or foam. Fluoride helps give protection to teeth against perils like decay because kids love sugar, which leads to acids that eat or wash away the enamel.
Visit us at The Dentist on Boones Ferry to learn about dentistry for kids and how it can help. Give us a call at (971) 377-1208 to set up an appointment. |
