A checkup every six months is one of the simplest ways to protect your child’s teeth. At Northeast Children’s Dentistry, a pediatric dentist in San Antonio, each visit is a cleaning and a full exam, so we can catch small problems while they’re still small. Your child leaves with clean teeth, and you leave knowing exactly how things look.
What happens at a children’s dental checkup?
Every visit is paced for your child’s age and comfort level. A typical checkup includes:
- Cleaning and polish. We remove plaque and tartar, including spots that are hard to reach with a toothbrush, then polish away surface stains.
- Exam. The dentist checks each tooth, the gums, the tongue and cheeks, and how the bite is coming together.
- Growth and airway check. We watch how the jaws are developing and note anything that may affect breathing, chewing, or how adult teeth come in.
- Digital X-Rays when needed. Not every visit calls for them. We decide based on your child’s age and cavity risk.
- Fluoride varnish. A thin coat brushed on at the end of the visit to strengthen enamel.
- Home-care coaching. Brushing and flossing tips for your child’s age, plus any snack or habit questions you bring.
Parents are welcome in the room. Younger children often feel better with a familiar face nearby, and you’ll hear the dentist’s findings firsthand.
Why see a pediatric dentist for checkups?
Pediatric dentists complete at least two extra years of specialty training after dental school, focused on how children’s teeth grow, how kids behave at different ages, and how to care for children with special health needs. Several of our doctors are board-certified pediatric dentists. In practice, that means we know how to turn a nervous three-year-old’s visit into a good one, and how to talk with a teenager about their own care.
How we help nervous kids through a cleaning
We use simple, friendly words instead of clinical ones. We show and explain each tool before it goes in your child’s mouth, and we let them take breaks. For a very young child, the exam may happen with them sitting on your lap, knee to knee with the dentist. If your child is anxious, tell us ahead of time so we can plan the visit around them.
Does insurance cover kids’ dental cleanings?
Routine exams and cleanings are often among the best-covered services in a dental plan. Many PPO plans include two preventive visits a year. Our front-desk team can help you check what your child’s plan includes before you come in.
How often should my child have a dental checkup?
Every six months works for most children. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends basing visit timing on each child’s risk, so if your child is prone to cavities or has braces, we may suggest coming in more often.
How long does a checkup take?
Most visits are under an hour, and many are shorter. A first visit, or a visit that includes X-rays, can take a little longer.
Do parents come back to the exam room?
Yes. Parents are welcome to stay with their child for the whole visit.
What if the dentist finds a cavity?
We’ll show you what we see, explain your options, and answer questions before anything is scheduled. Very early spots can sometimes be treated without a filling, using options like Curodont™ Repair.
Related: Preventive Dentistry, Fluoride, Digital X-Rays, First Visit