Children’s Dentistry – Duncanville, TX

Kid’s Dental Checkups & Cleanings

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends bringing your child in for a routine checkup and cleaning every six months. During these appointments, we’ll examine their teeth and gums in search of any lingering oral health problems. If we find any, we’ll create a treatment plan to get them addressed. Finally, we’ll conduct a thorough dental cleaning. Because many children aren’t used to the way the polisher or scaler feels on their teeth, we try to keep these fun and light to keep your child comfortable.

Oral Cancer Screenings

Every six months, we’ll also conduct an oral cancer screening. We’ll inspect their mouth in search of common symptoms of this disease, such as red and white patches in the mouth and oral wounds that won’t seem to heal. If we do spot anything, we’ll refer them to a specialist for a biopsy and further testing just in case.

Dental Sealants

If your child frequently gets cavities, it could be due to a couple of different factors, such as deep grooves and pits in their molars or poor oral hygiene. In these situations, we may suggest dental sealants. These are clear, shield-like protective structures that we’ll paint over the biting surface of their molars to prevent food debris and harmful oral bacteria from collecting in them. These will also help them more easily and effectively brush their teeth!

Fluoride Treatment

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that can be found in fresh fruits and vegetables as well as oral hygiene products and local water sources. If your child doesn’t receive enough of it, it could affect the development of their tooth enamel, which is the protective outer layer of their pearly whites. To prevent cavity formation, we can place a fluoridated gel over their teeth to make sure that their enamel is strong.

Learn More About Fluoride Treatment

Customized Nightguards & Sportsguards

If your child grinds and clenches their teeth when they sleep or plays on a local sports team, we offer custom-fitted protective mouthguards to help protect their jaw, teeth, and facial muscles from damage and stress. Each of our mouthguards is custom-fitted to their unique dental structure, so they’ll fit comfortably in their mouth as they sleep, run, or jump.

Children’s Dentistry FAQs

At Barefield Pediatric Dentistry, we are truly passionate about helping developing smiles grow to be healthy. For your convenience, we’ve gathered some of the most common questions we get about children’s dentistry below. If you don’t see the answers you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to give us a call and we’ll be happy to give you the information you need. 

Are My Child’s Baby Teeth Important to Their Overall Health?

Even though your little one’s baby teeth aren’t a permanent fixture of their precious smile, they play several important roles in your child’s oral development and overall health. Baby teeth help your child:

• Chew and eat properly.
• Speak clearly.
• Keep space in the jaw for permanent teeth.
• Stay healthy (untreated cavities in baby teeth can lead to systemic infections).
• Build self-confidence.

Why Is It Important for a Child to See the Dentist at an Early Age?

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children begin getting their routine dental checkups before their first birthday or within six months of their first tooth erupting. While this may seem somewhat early, this does several important things:

• Allows your Duncanville children’s dentist to spot and stop any dental issues or oral development problems while they’re still small and easy to treat.
• Introduces your child to the new sights, sounds, and friendly faces of their dentist’s office in a low-stress setting, which helps them associate positive feelings with dental care.
• Gets them in the habit of seeing their kid’s dentist regularly, which will help prevent dental anxiety and encourage them to keep their smile healthy for the rest of their life.

Does My Child Need X-Rays?

In most cases, we recommend that children get their first set of X-rays taken around the age of two or three to get them familiar with the process. Once the baby teeth in the back of their mouth are touching, we will usually start to take X-rays at least once a year to check for hidden cavities. Permanent teeth start coming in around the age of six, so we’ll take X-rays more often to ensure your child’s teeth and jaws are healthy and properly aligned.

What Should I Do If My Child Has a Toothache?

Unfortunately, there are a wide variety of factors that can cause toothaches. First, try having your child floss around the painful tooth and rinse with warm water to clear away any debris lodged between the teeth that may be causing discomfort. If that doesn’t help, call us. We’ll help you determine how quickly your little one needs to be seen and provide personalized first-aid advice over the phone. Remember, do NOT place aspirin directly on the gums or aching tooth.

Should I Be Concerned About My Child’s Thumbsucking?

Thumbsucking is a natural reflex in children. In most cases, this habit will fade away on its own and isn’t usually a cause for concern. However, if you notice that your child sucks their thumb aggressively or they’re still thumbsucking around the age of six, there could be problems. At this point, thumbsucking can impact how their permanent teeth come in and how the roof of their mouth develops. We’ve helped countless children break this bad habit over the years, and we’ll be happy to provide strategies and guidance on how to help your son or daughter to do the same.