Routine Cleanings & Examinations

Some children get nervous about going to the dentist and getting their teeth cleaned, and guess what? It’s perfectly normal! Dr. Kimberly can answer your and your child’s questions about what is going to happen during their visit. Routine cleanings and exams are crucial to your child’s overall dental health. There’s no need for children to be afraid.

 

What age should my child go to the dentist for the first time?

The answer to this isn’t as straightforward as it may seem. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, a child should visit the dentist within 6 months of the first tooth or by the age of one, whichever comes first. Most kids will get their first tooth in by six months, but it can be longer. Don’t worry if it is a little later, as every child is on their own schedule!

What is routine dental care?

Routine dental care is the cleanings and checkups your child receives when they visit their pediatric dentist. At-home-care includes brushing and flossing teeth twice daily. It’s important to make sure your child stays on schedule for routine dental exams and follows any treatments recommended by Dr. Kimberly, like fluoride, fillings, or other treatment. Combining at-home-care with professional recommendations will ensure that your child’s dental health is always excellent.

What is included in a routine dental exam?

When your child comes in for his or her dental exam, he or she will typically spend most of the appointment with a team member. This will be the person that will clean your child’s teeth, and the exam will be performed by Dr. Kimberly.

Typically, the first step will be gathering any information regarding changes to your child’s dental and medical history or insurance. This can include things like medications, diet, and allergies. All of these can attribute to creating or modifying the dental treatment plan.

The next step will be the actual examination of your child’s teeth, jaw and gums. This is done by visually looking and feeling around your child’s mouth. Then, x-rays can be completed. These are crucial in making sure your child’s mouth is healthy and no other abnormalities are forming. We will take x-rays during every visit as things change quickly with children’s teeth.

After x-rays, a team member will clean your child’s teeth. This is where built up tartar will be removed, and the teeth will be polished leaving the teeth super smooth! After this, Dr. Kimberly will conduct an exam of the x-rays and your child’s clean teeth!

Finally, Dr. Kimberly will sit down and explain what the x-rays and exam revealed. If an issue is discovered, she’ll discuss treatment options as well as what steps to take between visits to stay on top of your child’s dental health.

How often should my child’s teeth be cleaned?

Your child should be brushing and flossing their teeth twice a day. Be sure to schedule a visit to Palmetto Kids Dentistry for a professional cleaning twice a year, or every six months. For kiddos that may be high risk for complications, Dr. Kimberly will often recommend more frequent visits.

How long is a typical visit?

A typical exam and cleaning will be around 30-45 minutes. The length of visit will depend on how long it takes to clean your child’s teeth and if Dr. Kimberly discovers any issues that need to be addressed. If your child’s teeth have been properly cared for, the visit will be minimal and short!

Are dental cleanings covered by insurance?

This will depend on what kind of dental insurance you have. Generally, most dental insurance will cover at least a portion of the cost of cleanings while the majority of plans will cover two annual cleanings at full cost. This is great news! This could mean that you won’t pay anything out of pocket at your child’s next visit.

Schedule Your Next Visit

Contact us or give us a call to schedule your child’s next cleaning and exam! We can’t wait to see you!

Schedule an Appointment

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101 Patriot Lane   |   Summerville, SC 29486
Located 3 miles east of I-26
843.284.6497

info@palmettokidsdentistry.com
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