Children’s Dental Care
The American Dental Association and Wisconsin Dental Association recommend a child’s first visit to a children’s dentist to happen when the first tooth erupts or by the age of one. Establishing trust in the dental office environment is the goal of your child’s first dental visit because it sets the tone for life-long oral health care. This is also a great time for parents to learn how to protect those precious baby teeth from dangers including proper food and beverage choices for different times of the day as well as brushing techniques, fluoride application, sealants and dental expectations.
Our role as your Manitowoc area children’s dentist is not merely to clean teeth or fill cavities, but also to nurture children to become fearless adult patients who respect their oral health. By bringing your child to a dentist at an early age, you can ensure the timely prevention of dental concerns and provide your child with an upbeat experience that can last a lifetime. Although rare, we may determine your child to need the techniques of a specialist in children’s dentistry, we will refer you to a qualified pediatric dentist. We’d prefer to see children from an early age so that we can provide continuous care for their lifetime.
Fluoride Treatment – One way to help prevent cavities from occurring is through the use of fluoride. Fluoride is a naturally-occurring mineral that helps harden the tooth enamel and make it more resistant to tooth decay. Fluoride can be delivered to the teeth in 2 ways: topically (direct contact on the teeth) and systemically (enters the body through drinking water) . Dr. Vraney, your child’s dentist, will discuss optimal fluoride sources and recommend fluoride treatments with you.
Dental Sealants –Sealants are a great option for the prevention of dental decay because they act as a physical barrier to bacteria and food that can occupy the grooves of primary (baby) teeth or adult teeth. A dental sealant is a thin plastic film applied to the chewing surfaces of molars and premolars to fill the grooves and pits.
Applying dental sealants is easy and painless. Sealants typically last five years, but can last for as long as ten years. Dr. Vraney will examine the integrity of your child’s sealants at return visits.