Regular dental Checkup for children are a critical part of preventive health care.

During a dental checkup, Dr. Mohamamdi, your local pediatric dentist will examine your child’s teeth and evaluate your child’s risk of tooth decay followed by Cleaning. The checkup and cleaning might include applying a sealant or fluoride to reduce the risk of decay. A dental exam/ checkup for children might also include dental X-rays or other diagnostic procedures.

Dr. Mohammadi will likely discuss your child’s diet and oral hygiene habits and demonstrate proper brushing and flossing techniques. Other topics might include preventing oral injuries or, for adolescents, the health risks associated with tobacco, substance abuse and oral piercings.

Why a dental checkup for children is done

Regular dental checkup for children helps protect your child’s oral health. Dental Checkup gives Dr. Mohammadi your local children dentist a chance to detect problems early, when they’re most treatable, and provide tips for caring for your child’s teeth.

When to have a dental checkup for your child

Various factors might determine how frequently your child needs to have a dental exam/ checkup, including age, health and risk of tooth decay. Consider these general guidelines:

• Ages 6 months to 1 year. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association recommend scheduling a child’s first dental checkup after the first tooth erupts and no later than the first birthday. Also expect your baby’s teeth and gums to be examined at well-baby checkups.
• Toddlers, school-age children and adolescents. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends scheduling regular dental checkups, with the most common interval being every six months. However, the dentist might recommend fewer or more-frequent visits depending on your child’s risk factors for oral health problems.

Request an appoint at Beverly Pediatric Dentistry

How to prepare your child for his/her first dental checkup

To help prepare your child for a dental exam:

• Carefully time your child’s visit. Schedule dental exams for your child at a time of day when he or she is rested and most likely to cooperate.
• Be positive. When talking to your child about the dental checkup, avoid using words such as “pain,” “shot” or “hurt.” Instead, tell your child that Dr. Mohammadi will use special tools to make sure your child’s teeth are healthy. Remind your child that you visit the dentist as well, but don’t mention any negative dental experiences you might have had.
• Listen to your child. Encourage your child to share worries about visiting the pediatric dentist or having a dental checkup.

What you can expect during your child dental checkup

What happens during a dental exam for children might vary depending on the child’s age and treatment needs.

Ages 6 months to 1 year

Dr. Mohammadi, your local pediatric dentist might have you hold your child on your lap during the exam. Then she will likely:

• Evaluate your child’s oral hygiene and overall health, drinking and eating habits, and risk of tooth decay
• Remove stains or deposits on your child’s teeth by gently scrubbing with a wet toothbrush or wet cloth
• Demonstrate proper cleaning techniques
• Assess how much fluoride your child is getting through diet and use of oral hygiene products — and, if necessary, prescribe a fluoride supplement or apply a topical fluoride treatment to your child’s teeth
• Look for sores or bumps on your child’s tongue, inside the cheeks, and on the roof of the mouth
• Evaluate the impact of habits such as pacifier use and thumb sucking

Toddlers, school-age children and adolescents

During each regular checkup, Dr. Mohammadi will continue to evaluate your child’s oral hygiene and overall health, drinking and eating habits, and risk of tooth decay. Besides cleaning your child’s teeth,  Dr. Mohammadi and Beverly pediatric dentistry staff might:

• Take digital dental X-rays or, if necessary, do other diagnostic procedures
• Apply sealants — thin, protective plastic coatings — to permanent molars and other back teeth susceptible to decay
• Repair cavities or tooth defects
• Look for problems in the way your child’s upper and lower teeth fit together
• Counsel your child about the impact of thumb sucking, jaw clenching or nail biting
• Recommend pre-orthodontic treatment, such as a special mouthpiece, or orthodontic treatment, such as braces, to straighten your child’s teeth or adjust the bite

As your child gets older, dental exams might also include counseling about the oral health risks associated with:

• Drinking sugary beverages
• Smoking
• Chewing tobacco
• Eating disorders
• Oral piercings
• Not wearing a mouthguard during contact sports

Dr. Mohammadi might also discuss the possible removal of your child’s wisdom teeth (third molars) at the appropriate age, usually at age 16. In this case you can schedule a separate evaluation appointment with the oral surgeon at Beverly pediatric dentistry.

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Children should have dental checkups twice a year. When you bring your child to Beverly pediatric dentistry every six months, you are practicing the best form of preventive maintenance. When care for your child’s teeth consistently like this, he/she is very likely to keep his/her teeth in great condition for your entire lifetime.

Beverly Pediatric Dentistry has two convenient locations near Columbia Heights. Mclean office: 1363 Beverly Road, suite 250, Mclean VA 22101 T: 703-752-2200  Washington DC office: 1426  21st Street, 2nd floor  Washington DC 20036 T: 202-331-3474

Call us for a consultation visit. We are looking forward to meeting you and your family.