Regular dental exams and cleanings allows the doctors at Pediatric Dentistry of East Lansing to catch early signs of dental problems and can determine if there might be potential for future issues that may affect your child’s bite or tooth alignment. From there she can properly treat them and educate your child to help them build good dental habits that will last a lifetime.
Teeth are composed of many tiny pieces called molecules that attach to each other. These tiny pieces are constantly breaking apart throughout the day and reforming depending on our diet. Fluoride can be thought of as a “glue” for these pieces by keeping the molecules more tightly bound together and less prone to breaking apart. Topical fluoride treatment is effective in protecting children’s teeth and reducing cavities.
Think of a tooth’s top (chewing) surface as mountains with many grooves. When your child eats, food gets caught in those grooves. Although daily brushing is essential, applying a dental sealant will enhance the ability to keep those hard-to-reach areas clean. A dental sealant flows into the grooves, “sealing” the tooth and reducing the probability of cavities.
Radiographs (or X-Rays) are an essential part of our diagnostic protocol. Without them, dental conditions may go undetected. Dental X-Rays detect much more than dental cavities, and they allow the dentist to evaluate growth and development, bone health, pathology, and trauma. At Pediatric Dentistry of East Lansing, we use the latest dental X-ray technology with very minimal exposure.