Preventive Dentistry – Castle Rock, CO
Keeping Growing Smiles on the Right Path
Children often require lots of help when it comes to maintaining a healthy smile. They’re often far too busy playing outside and doing other “fun” things that you may find yourself attempting to do whatever you can to get them to spend a few precious minutes cleaning their teeth and gums. From the moment they arrive in the world, their mouths need continual care to avoid many of the most common dental problems (i.e., tooth decay, cavities, gum disease, bad breath). Apart from the normal oral hygiene routine at home, regular preventive care in the form of dental visits is necessary. Fortunately, at Castle Rock Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, our pediatric dentist can not only put your child’s growing smile on the right path, but we also provide you with helpful tips and techniques to make brushing and flossing at home easier and more enjoyable.
To schedule an appointment for your little one to receive preventive dentistry in Castle Rock, CO, give us a call today!
Why Choose Castle Rock Smiles Pediatric Dentistry for Preventive Dentistry?
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Convenient Location
for Families -
Gentle and Trustworthy
Dentists and Team -
Accepts Several
Dental Insurance Plans
Child’s First Dentist Appointment
During your child’s first dentist appointment, our team will perform a thorough cleaning and examination as well as offer fluoride treatment. During the cleaning portion, we will remove plaque and tartar from around the teeth and gums, which often accumulates because of food, saliva, and bacteria. By removing this from their teeth, it minimizes their risk for gum disease and cavities.
Once their teeth are fully cleaned, Dr. Benzley will come in to examine their smile, checking for any signs of decay, cavity formation, or bite alignment issues. If signals indicate that fluoride treatment is necessary, we will apply a quick and easy varnish to each tooth that absorbs into their teeth and protects them against tooth decay and strengthens the enamel.
Infant Dental Exam
Choosing to bring your baby to see us is a great way to start them off on a positive oral health journey. It is best if you schedule their first appointment by the time their first tooth erupts or by the time they turn a year old. During this visit, you and your child will become familiar with our dental team, and we will begin to discuss your child’s oral development, oral hygiene tips, formulating healthy eating habits, as well as perform a thorough exam.
Learn More About Infant Oral Care
Dental Sealants
Dental sealants are a great way to protect your child’s molars and premolars. These teeth are often hard to reach for little ones, especially those who have novice brushing and flossing skills. It can take years for your child to formulate more mature oral hygiene techniques, so to safeguard these areas of their smile, we can apply a thin piece of plastic that fills in the pits and fissures on the chewing surfaces of these teeth. These coatings will block out food particles, bacteria, and other debris that can easily burrow into these crevices and cause tooth decay, cavities, or more serious infections.
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Oral Cancer Screenings
Oral cancer is a serious disease that knows no age. While it is highly unlikely that children will be faced with this problem, we cannot rule out the possibility. This is why we perform oral cancer screenings during their routine checkups. These quick and easy visual exams allow our team to detect oral cancer in its early stages, making it possible for your child to recover successfully. Your child may never know they are undergoing an oral cancer screening because the process is completely painless and can be completed in a matter of minutes.
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Nightguards for Bruxism
If bruxism (teeth grinding) is plaguing your child’s smile, it’s time to consider how a custom-made nightguard can improve their teeth and jaw. Stress, sinus congestion, and even teething can cause your little one to clench and grind their teeth, eventually causing wear and tear as well as chronic jaw pain. This common condition is often linked to temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) and can cause additional damage to the oral and facial structures. To remedy this, we can provide your child with an oral device that is customized to fit their smile and will offer effective relief from the pain. Because nightguards can interfere with proper jaw growth, Dr. Benzley typically doesn’t recommend them until a patient has already received all of their permanent teeth.
Learn More About Nightguards for Bruxism
Athletic Mouthguards/ Sportsguards
Once your child has all their permanent teeth, we can provide them with a custom-made sportsguard to protect their pearly whites and soft tissues from injury out on the field or the court. Sports-related injuries often send parents and their kids to emergency dentists and local ERs. To avoid the possibility of this happening to you and your child, we will create a sportsguard that will comfortably fit inside their mouth and minimize the impact should they be the recipient of a hard tackle, fly ball to the face, or a missed hurdle that has them on the ground. These oral appliances give you and your child greater peace of mind.
Space Maintainers
Should your child lose a baby tooth too early, it is best if you allow us to insert a space maintainer. These small, fixed appliances can prevent nearby healthy teeth from shifting out of place in an attempt to cover the vacated socket. If this occurs, it can lead to an improper eruption of the adult tooth as well as future orthodontic issues. A space maintainer will keep their healthy teeth in place and allow the permanent tooth to erupt without issue when it’s time for it to push through the gums.
