Our Grandville, MI, pediatric dentists can help protect your child’s smile every step of the way, from infancy up until your child turns 16. However, it’s important to get off to a strong start. If you’re looking for the right place for your child’s first dental appointment, Grandville Pediatric Dentistry may be right for you. Our team of board-certified pediatric dentists specialize in early childhood development and can answer all of your questions related to teething, primary teeth, and more.
Infant Exams and First Visits
The is within 6 months of their first tooth appearing or by their first birthday, whichever comes first. This may seem early, but those tiny teeth need professional attention just like adult teeth. Early dental visits in the form of an infant oral health exam help establish healthy routines and allow our local pediatric dentists to spot potential issues before they become serious. Of course, children can also be seen for the first time beyond infancy.
When your child arrives for their first dental checkup, our friendly, energetic team will make sure that you and your family are comfortable in our Grandville, MI, pediatric dental office. We will show you the best dental practices when caring for your little one’s oral health and give you tips about cleaning your child’s gums before teeth have even emerged.
At Grandville Pediatric Dentistry, we look forward to developing long-lasting relationships with our patients, and we want to be a resource for you as your child grows. Starting early with preventive dental care allows your child to build trust with our team and form healthy habits that last. More importantly, you can prevent problems before they require more invasive treatments.
Learn more about baby oral health exams and first visits here.
Dental Cleanings and Exams
Professional teeth cleanings and exams are a simple, yet important, step in your child’s oral health routine. With regular appointments inside our pediatric dental office, your child has a minimized risk of developing cavities or gum disease.
Beyond the immediate benefits, bringing your child in for a dental cleaning also provides an opportunity for early detection. For example, our dentists can identify signs of decay, misalignment, gum inflammation, or bite issues that might require attention. Addressing these problems now through dental sealants, fluoride application, or early orthodontic evaluation, we can potentially prevent more extensive treatments in the future.
During your child’s cleaning and exam, we will:
- Clean your child’s teeth by removing any plaque or tartar, which can lead to tooth decay and periodontal disease
- Floss and polish their teeth for a healthy, bright smile
- Examine your child’s smile for signs of any damaging dental conditions or diseases
- Take dental X-rays to monitor oral development (if due for them)
Our dentists recommend that your child visits us every 6 months for a routine dental cleaning and exam. We may suggest more frequent visits if needed, and we also encourage you to contact us if your child suffers from a dental emergency, pain, or injury. To schedule your child’s next appointment, we invite you to contact us today. We look forward to caring for your child’s smile!
Dental Sealants
If your child needs a simple, effective way to protect their teeth from decay, we may suggest the application of dental sealants. are best explained as thin coatings, typically made of composite resin, that are painted or brushed onto the chewing surface of a patient’s molars. Once on teeth, they act as a barrier, protecting enamel from bacteria and acids that contribute to tooth decay.
Because of how well sealants defend against cavities, many dentists, including ours, recommend they be placed on molars once they fully erupt. The entire process is pain-free, and your child should not experience any discomfort afterward. Sealants offer a multitude of benefits, especially for children who are developing their permanent teeth.
If you’d prefer, we can apply sealants at the end of your child’s next appointment as a lasting form of cavity prevention.
Silver Diamine Fluoride
With silver diamine fluoride (SDF), we now have a gentle, noninvasive option for preventing and treating active cavities that enables us to better preserve a child’s enamel.
Applied to the surface of the teeth as a liquid, SDF actually kills the bacteria responsible for dental decay while also stopping it from affecting the nearby teeth. It is especially useful for children with excessive decay or who have numerous cavities that cannot be treated in a single appointment.
Special Needs Dentistry
Children with special needs have a much higher risk of developing dental health problems for a multitude of reasons. Many have mobility issues that make brushing and flossing very difficult, while others may have a lot of dental phobias because the dental office is an unfamiliar place. This is why those with special needs are more likely to have cavities, lose their teeth early, and experience oral development problems.
At Grandville Pediatric Dentistry, we’re proud to offer dental care for special needs children. In addition to providing the clinical services that your child might need, our team can also help you put together a home care plan so your child can learn how to look after their smile between appointments, drastically improving their oral health in the process.
Emergency Care
At Grandville Pediatric Dentistry, we know that there is no way to plan for dental emergencies. That is why we offer same-day dental emergency care. Whether your child’s tooth has been fractured or completely knocked out, our emergency pediatric dentists and their team are here to help.
A dental emergency is a situation that requires prompt attention from a dental professional. At our office, we understand that you cannot always plan when your child will need our care. If your child experiences a dental emergency, we encourage you to contact us as soon as possible.
Our team will schedule your child to meet with one of our pediatric dentists as soon as we are able so your child can receive the care he or she needs.
We are happy to care for several types of dental emergencies, including:
- Severe, lasting toothaches or other types of tooth pain
- Damage to the soft tissues of the mouth, including the tongue, cheeks, lips, and gums
- A cracked or fractured tooth
- A chipped or broken tooth
- A partially or fully knocked-out tooth
If your child suffers from one of these conditions or another type of dental emergency, please contact our office. Our team will also be able to provide instructions on how to take care of your child’s smile until you and your child are able to come to our office to meet with us.
If your child has experienced trauma to the head or neck, we recommend that you and your child visit the emergency room or general physician before coming to us, even if your child’s smile is also damaged. To learn more about emergency dental treatment, we invite you to call or visit us today.