One of the most common chronic diseases affecting school-aged children is tooth-related disease. Each year, millions of children miss school due to toothaches. The annual back-to-school checkup helps ensure your child has a school year free from tooth pain and dental disease. Many school districts request proof of health and dental examinations for new or returning students. School administrators know that days missed due to dental disease can be eliminated or minimized when the school year begins with a thorough dental examination.
An Ounce of Prevention . . .
When it comes to dental care, the old adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is very true, especially for children. Taking the proper precautions from day one can make a big difference in your child’s oral health. Proper brushing and flossing along with regular dental checkups help assure a high level of oral health.
The back-to-school dental examination gives your child’s dentist an opportunity to check for dental decay and gum disease. It is also a time to make sure your child is brushing and flossing properly. Younger children often need reminders on proper technique. The professional cleaning that goes along with the oral exam also helps ensure that areas your child may be missing are thoroughly cleaned.
Plaque buildup occurs in those areas that your child misses when brushing and flossing. These areas are susceptible to the development of gingivitis and decay. Professional cleaning removes the plaque and food debris that builds up in these areas and prevents the formation of gum disease.
The back-to-school dental visit helps prevent problems of all sorts for kids of all ages. In addition to checking for dental decay and gum disease, there are other preventive measures that can be taken to help ensure oral health for your child. For example, children with newly erupted molars can benefit from dental sealants.
Dental Sealants
New permanent molars have deep grooves and fissures in which food debris and bacteria can accumulate. This can lead to dental decay. A medical-grade plastic resin can be placed on the chewing surface of these teeth to prevent this accumulation and thus prevent dental decay. The resin is a runny version of the composite material used for tooth colored filling, which fills in the grooves and fissures and protects the teeth.
Your child deserves to have a good school year without the pain and discomfort of dental disease. Contact Smile Structure today to schedule back-to-school dental exams for your children and get a good start to the school year.
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