Dental exam for children

Definition

Regular dental exams are an important part of preventive health care. During a dental exam for children, the dentist or hygienist will clean your child's teeth and evaluate your child's risk of tooth decay. A dental exam for children may include application of various protective measures, such as sealants or fluoride treatments. A dental exam for children may also include dental X-rays or other diagnostic procedures.

During a dental exam for children, the dentist or hygienist will likely discuss your child's diet and oral hygiene habits and demonstrate proper brushing and flossing techniques. Other topics for discussion during a dental exam for children may include preventing oral injuries or, for adolescents, the health risks associated with tobacco, substance abuse or oral piercings.

Why it's done

Regular dental exams help protect your child's oral health. Dental exams give your child's dentist a chance to provide tips on caring for your child's teeth, as well as detect any problems early — when they're most treatable.

When to have a dental exam
Several factors may determine how frequently your child needs to have a dental exam, including his or her age, health and risk of tooth decay. Consider these general guidelines:

• Ages 6 months to 1 year. The American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommend scheduling a child's first dental exam after the first tooth erupts and no later than his or her first birthday.
• Toddlers, school-age children and adolescents. After your child's first dental visit, have your child's teeth examined at least once a year — preferably every six months. The dentist may recommend more frequent visits if your child is at high risk of tooth decay or has other oral health problems.

How you prepare

Before you schedule your child's first dental exam, consider whether you'd be most comfortable visiting your family dentist or taking your child to a pediatric dentist — a dentist who provides specialized oral care to children, from infants to teens. Pediatric dentists typically have equipment specially designed for children and child-friendly offices.

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 well rested and most likely to be cooperative.
• Be positive. When talking to your child about his or her dental exam, avoid using words such as "pain" or "hurt." Instead, tell your child that the dentist will use special tools to make sure your child's teeth are healthy. Remind your child that you visit the dentist, too — but don't talk about any negative dental experiences you may have had.
• Listen to your child. Encourage your child to share any fears he or she may have about visiting the dentist or having a dental exam.

What you can expect

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

Ages 6 months to 1 year
The dentist or hygienist may place your child on a table or have you hold your child on your lap to conduct the exam. Then, the dentist or hygienist will likely:

• Evaluate your child's oral hygiene and overall health, drinking and eating habits, and his or her risk of tooth decay
• Remove any stains or deposits on your child's teeth by gently scrubbing with a wet toothbrush
• Demonstrate proper cleaning techniques
• Assess how much fluoride your child is getting through his or her 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 the tongue, inside the cheeks and on the roof of the mouth
• Evaluate the impact of childhood habits, such as pacifier use and thumb sucking
• Recommend ways to help your child avoid oral injuries

Toddlers, school-age children and adolescents
During each regular checkup, the dentist or hygienist will continue to evaluate your child's oral hygiene and overall health, drinking and eating habits, and his or her risk of tooth decay. In addition to cleaning your child's teeth, the dentist or hygienist may:

• Take oral 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 any cavities or tooth defects
• Look for any problems in the way your child's upper and lower teeth fit together and in your child's speech development
• Counsel your child about the impact of thumb sucking, jaw clenching or nail biting
• Recommend pre-orthodontic treatment, such as a special mouthpiece, or orthodontics, such as braces, to straighten your child's teeth or adjust your child's bite

As your child gets older, dental exams may also include counseling about the oral health risks associated with a poor diet, smoking, chewing tobacco, eating disorders, oral piercings and failing to wear a mouth guard during contact sports — as well as the possible removal of wisdom teeth (third molars).

Oral X-ray
An oral X-ray allows the dentist to see detailed images of specific sections of your child's mouth. X-ray film is traditionally developed in a dark room, but a newer technique allows X-ray images to be sent to a computer and viewed on a screen. Various types of oral X-rays are available, including:

• Bitewing. This type of X-ray allows the dentist to see the crowns of the upper and lower teeth. During a bitewing X-ray, your child will bite down on the X-ray film holder while the X-ray images are being taken.
• Periapical. This type of X-ray allows the dentist to see the tip of the root of a tooth.
• Occlusal. This type of X-ray allows the dentist to see the way the upper teeth and corresponding lower teeth fit together when the jaw is closed.
• Panoramic. This type of X-ray gives the dentist a comprehensive view of the entire mouth.

X-rays aren't typically needed at every dental visit. If you're concerned about the radiation exposure of traditional X-rays, share your concerns with the dentist.

Dental impression
In some cases, the dentist may recommend making a dental impression to produce a replica of your child's teeth and oral tissue. The dentist or hygienist will fill a horseshoe-shaped tray with a soft, gelatin-like material and place it over your child's upper and then lower teeth. After a few minutes, the tray is removed and used to create a dental cast of your child's mouth.

Results

After your child's dental exam, the dentist or hygienist will discuss your child's oral health, including your child's risk of tooth decay, any other oral health problems, and preventive measures you can take to improve and protect your child's oral health. The dentist or hygienist will also recommend the best time to return for a follow-up visit — typically every six months. If your child is at high risk of tooth decay or has other oral health problems, the dentist or hygienist may recommend more frequent checkups.