Regular dental exams are an important part of preventive health care. Your child should have regular check-ups every six months to ensure that we diagnose cavities early, monitor your child’s dental development and reinforce good oral hygiene practices.

Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by making the tooth more resistant to acid attacks from plaque bacteria and sugars in the mouth. It also reverses early decay. In children under six years of age, fluoride becomes incorporated into the development of permanent teeth, making it difficult for acids to demineralize the teeth.

Your child can get off to a good start by:

• Seeing a dentist regularly

• Brushing twice a day and flossing at night before bedtime at home

• Getting the right amount of fluoride

• Eating a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables

X-rays are still an important part of any dental examination to help diagnose any problems under the surface or around the foundations of the teeth. These are usually taken by having the child bite on a small tab which steadies the x-ray film in the mouth while the dentist positions the x-ray beam so that they can take the picture Usually four x-rays are taken for examinations but it also depends on the age of the child.