Why Your Child Should See The Dentist Frequently
It's important at every age to make semi-annual trips to the dentist's office. Your child should be no exception. The teeth inside your child's mouth are constantly changing and growing from the moment he gets his first tooth to well into his teen and early adult years. Because of these changes, many underlying critical issues can go unnoticed unless your dentist spots the problem. Here are some important reasons why you should make sure your child has his teeth and gums examined on a frequent basis.
Proper Alignment Of Teeth
It's a very crucial time as your child begins to develop new adult teeth. Throughout these developmental years between the ages of six and twelve years of age, many things can affect how and when these teeth come in. If your child's baby teeth do not fall out properly, are decayed or never formed properly in the first place, the adult teeth can come in crooked or misaligned. A pediatric dentist or pedodontist can help detect these issues before they become a major problem. Baby teeth may have to be treated or pulled in order for the adult teeth to come in effectively. A referral to an orthodontist may also be recommended.
Cavity Prevention
Keeping cavities at bay is the main patient outcome goal of the dental hygienist and dentist. But your child must keep up his end of the bargain as well. This means brushing and flossing after every meal if possible and avoiding an overabundance of sugary snacks and drinks. Excessive cavities can lead to tooth decay, tooth loss and gum disease.
Underlying Structural Issues
While a pediatric dentist does not specialize in diseases and conditions of the jaw and neck, he will likely be one of the first doctors to detect a potential problem. As your child begins to grow and form into a teen and young adult, bone structure issues can affect oral health as well as his overall health. Types of temporomandibular joint dysfunctions can lead to severe issues with head and facial pain as well as jaw restriction and clicking noises in the mouth. Early referral to an orthopedic surgeon can help adjust the issue before it starts to cause widespread problems.
Medical Concerns
When the dental hygienist examines your child's mouth, he or she will look for any irregularities that could indicate a potential medical issue. Here are some possible conditions that could be detected:
- Swollen adenoids and tonsils could indicate tonsillitis
- A red irritated throat could mean the presence of streptococcal infection
- Irregularly shaped lymph nodes could be a sign of lymphoma
- Dark or irregular shaped moles or lesions might indicate a type of oral cancer
It's important to have any inconsistencies checked out by your medical doctor at a follow-up visit.
Visiting a dentist like Discovery Dental not only helps keep your child's teeth healthy, it can also be a great tool for detecting other possible medical issues as well.