Visiting the dentist is essential for adults. But what about your children? At Cherry Creek Dental, we understand how children can fear going to the dentist office. That’s why we help guide you and your child form an early stage to prepare for dental visits. Our team has the training and understanding to make your child feel as comfortable as possible. Here’s what you can expect at your child’s first visit to the dentist.

Before the Dental Visit

According to the Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, children should see the dentist by their first birthday in order to prevent childhood cavities. Once you decide that it’s time to visit a dentist, make an appointment with a local dentist to tour the office with your child. Notice how the staff handles children and the dental procedures. Let your dentist know any additional health information that may impact their visit. To help your child be as prepared as possible, we recommend talking to them about what is going to happen. Furthermore, practice brushing and flossing with your child beforehand.

During the Dental Visit

When you bring your child into Cherry Creek Dental, you can expect a comfortable and clean atmosphere and friendly staff. We help young children feel comfortable visiting the dentist so they do not end up suffering from dental anxiety. Children are at a high risk of tooth decay as they struggle to brush their teeth correctly. The grooves in the teeth are called “fissures” and tend to be the areas where younger children develop cavities. We can provide tooth sealants to protect these high-risk areas of the teeth and prevent cavities. We provide fluoride treatments for children to help the enamel become stronger, and to prevent gum disease.

Contact Us to Learn More about Pediatric Dentistry

Every child needs to visit the dentist to prevent oral health issues. Cherry Creek Dental will help you and your child learn how to properly care for teeth and gums. Contact us today to schedule a pediatric general dentistry appointment at 435-319-6212.

The extraction of a tooth is sometimes necessary when you are suffering from pain and discomfort in the mouth due to it being compromised. A rotting or decaying tooth is often the cause or underlying problem, and it should be removed in order to prevent further exposure of the nerve that lies beneath. Constant toothaches and sharp sensitivity in the general region could make it necessary to elect for the extraction of a damaged tooth. If you are going in for a tooth extraction in the near future, then please continue reading forward to learn more about the aftercare steps that should be taken into account while undergoing the healing process.

Brush with Care

Even if you will be wearing temporary teeth after the procedure, you still may need to remove them in order to allow for the brushing of your remaining natural teeth. Exercise extreme caution while doing so, as your mouth will be quite sensitive at this time. Avoid the area from which the tooth has been extracted from, until it has fully healed. Any contact of the toothbrush bristles with the raw nerve in that general region can cause extreme pain and tenderness, making it difficult to consume foods afterwards, or even speak properly.

Avoid Extreme Hot and Cold Temperature Foods

It is important to stay away from extremes of temperature in your mouth. Consuming food and beverages that are too hot or too cold can increase the sensitivity in the affected area. Try to aim for more warm or room temperature foods, but not foods that are too hot. You should also use water of room temperature to gargle, and rinse your mouth out with after brushing. This will provide more comfort to the region, preventing the nerve in the affected area from being too painful or overly sensitive.

Use Topical Gels

If you are experiencing too much pain, then it might be a good idea to contact your dentist and find out which steps you can take to help ease the discomfort. Typically, dentists recommend washing the mouth out with slightly warm water for about 2 to 3 minutes, or until the discomfort begins to subside. Over-the-counter lotions and topical gels are also a good option, and will probably be very useful right after an extraction. In case of too much pain, you can also ask for analgesics.

Temporarily Avoid Heavy Work and Hectic Activities

If you normally have a very busy lifestyle, then now is the time to take a break from strenuous work, or at least cut down some of your activities until you are fully healed again. Continue your essential activities with care, and avoid over-exertion. You should especially avoid heavy activities which might prevent your body from recuperating as quickly after an extraction. Keep your workload down to a minimum until your next follow up visit, or as recommended by your dentist.

If you would like more information about care after a dental extraction, or to schedule an appointment, please feel free to contact us today at: (435) 319-6121.

girl in dentist chair A dental sealant can be a great treatment option for anyone that is visiting the dentist. A sealant is basically a barrier that is applied to the teeth to help protect against any cavities that may occur. The sealant doesn’t interfere with brushing or flossing. It simply adds an extra barrier against the damages that plaque and food can cause. The sealant is applied at your dentist’s office by painting it on. It will dry quickly, as it bonds to the tooth’s enamel. It is generally placed on the molars, and other vulnerable areas for extra protection. Once the applied sealant has dried, the patient will never even notice that it’s there. They will be able to carry on using their teeth normally like always. Once the sealant is applied, eating and drinking like before will be no problem, but now with further added protection. Now that you understand what a sealant is and how it works, should you consider getting dental sealants? Here are our top reasons as to why we think you should consider having them applied to your own teeth:

Children and teenagers alike will greatly benefit from having sealants applied to their teeth to help shield their growing teeth from dental decay. This added barrier can help to protect, and prevent their teeth from any potential future dental issues, as well. Sealants are greatly beneficial to them, particularly when their dental habits tend to be less than desirable.

For people who have a personal history of, or family genetics of weaker tooth enamel, having sealants applied to the molars will add an extra layer of protection to keep the teeth in the very best health possible.

Anyone who struggles with a buildup of plaque, or maintaining the desired dental hygiene of their own teeth, should consider having dental sealants applied to help further protect against the damages of improper dental care.

Once you have decided that you would like to consider getting sealants on yours or your children’s teeth, please feel free to contact us to schedule an appointment, or for further assistance with any questions you might have. Dental sealants typically last for a couple of years. So at your routine 6 month checkups, the dentist will examine the previous sealant to determine whether or not a new sealant needs to be applied.

Your Child’s First Visit to the Dentist