When to start preventive dentistry?
Preventive dentistry begins with the
first tooth. Bring your child for a visit to
our clinic at the eruption of their first
tooth. Doing so can help you learn how
to protect your infant's dental health.
The earlier the dental visit, the better
the chance of preventing dental
disease and helping your child belong
to the cavity-free generation.
Preventive dentistry begins with the
first tooth. Bring your child for a visit to
our clinic at the eruption of their first
tooth. Doing so can help you learn how
to protect your infant's dental health.
The earlier the dental visit, the better
the chance of preventing dental
disease and helping your child belong
to the cavity-free generation.
Preventive Dentistry
What is preventive dentistry?
Preventive dentistry for children includes:
Why is Preventive Dentistry Important?
Preventive dentistry leads to a healthy oral health for your
child. Benefits of good oral health are as follows:
Preventive dentistry for children includes:
- Brushing
- Dental Development
- Flossing
- Fluoride
- Oral Habits
- Orthodontics
- Parent Involvement
- Proper Diet
- Sealants
- Sports Safety and Mouth Guards
Why is Preventive Dentistry Important?
Preventive dentistry leads to a healthy oral health for your
child. Benefits of good oral health are as follows:
- Children chew more easily and gain more nutrients
from the food they eat. - They learn to speak more quickly and clearly.
- They have a better chance at better general health,
because disease in the mouth can endanger the rest
of the body. - A healthy mouth is more attractive, giving children
confidence in their appearance. - Finally, preventive dentistry means less extensive -
and less expensive - health treatment for your child.
Role of parents in prevention
How does Dr. Shah help prevent dental problems?
After evaluating your child's dental
health, we will design a personalized
program of home care for your child.
The program will include brushing and
flossing instructions, diet counseling,
and if necessary, fluoride
recommendations.
health, we will design a personalized
program of home care for your child.
The program will include brushing and
flossing instructions, diet counseling,
and if necessary, fluoride
recommendations.
Tooth cleaning and polishing and fluoride treatments are all
part of your child's prevention program. But there is more.
For example, Dr. Shah can apply sealants to protect your
child against tooth decay, help you get a mouth guard to
prevent sports injuries to the face and teeth, and provide
early diagnostics and care of orthodontic problems.
As a pediatric dentist, Dr. Shah is uniquely trained to develop
a combination of office and home preventive care to insure
your child a happy smile!
part of your child's prevention program. But there is more.
For example, Dr. Shah can apply sealants to protect your
child against tooth decay, help you get a mouth guard to
prevent sports injuries to the face and teeth, and provide
early diagnostics and care of orthodontic problems.
As a pediatric dentist, Dr. Shah is uniquely trained to develop
a combination of office and home preventive care to insure
your child a happy smile!
Dental Health Mouth Guards
Mouth guards are coverings worn over teeth, and often used to protect teeth from injury from teeth
grinding and during sports.
There are three types of mouth guards:
Stock mouth protectors are preformed and come ready to wear. They are inexpensive and can be
bought at most sporting good stores and department stores. However, little can be done to adjust
their fit, they are bulky and make breathing and talking difficult and they provide little or no protection.
Dentists do not recommend their use.
Boil and bite mouth protectors also can be bought at many sporting goods stores and may offer a
better fit than stock mouth protectors. The "boil and bite" mouth guard is made from thermoplastic
material. It is placed in hot water to soften, then placed in the mouth and shaped around the teeth
using finger and tongue pressure.
Custom-fitted mouth protectors are individually designed and made in a dental office. First, your
pediatric dentist will make an impression of your child's teeth and a mouth guard is then molded over
the model using a special material. Due to the use of the special material and because of the extra
time and work involved, this custom-made mouth guard is more expensive than the other types, but it
provides the most comfort and best fit and protection.
Generally, mouth guards cover your upper teeth only, but in some instances (such as if you wear
braces or another fixed dental appliance on your lower jaw), your pediatric dentist will make a mouth
guard for the lower teeth as well. Your pediatric dentist can suggest the best mouth guard for your
child. An effective mouth guard should be comfortable, resist tears, be durable and easy to clean, and
should not restrict your breathing or speech.
If your child grinds their teeth at night, a special mouth guard-type of dental appliance – called a
nocturnal bite plate or bite splint -- may be created to prevent tooth damage.
Who Needs a Mouth Guard?
Mouth guards should be used by anyone – especially children – who play contact sports such as
football, boxing, soccer, ice hockey, basketball, lacrosse, and field hockey. However, even those
participating in non contact sports (for example, gymnastics) and any recreational activity (for example,
skateboarding, mountain biking) that might pose a risk of injury to the mouth would benefit from
wearing a protective mouth guard.
Children who grind their teeth at night should have a nocturnal bite plate or bite splint made to
prevent tooth damage.
Why Should My Child Use a Mouth Guard When Playing Sports?
Because accidents can happen during any physical activity, the advantage of using a mouth guard is
that it can help limit the risk of mouth-related injuries to your lips, tongue, and soft tissues of your
mouth. Mouth guards also help your child avoid chipped or broken teeth, nerve damage to a tooth or
even tooth loss.
Can my Child wear a Mouth Guard if She or He Wears Braces?
Yes. Since an injury to the face could damage orthodontic brackets or other fixed appliances, a
properly fitted mouth guard may be particularly important for children who wear braces or have fixed
bridge work. Your pediatric dentist can determine the mouth guard that will provide the best
protection for your child's unique mouth work.
How Do I Care for My Child's Mouth Guard? To care for your child's mouth guard:
Mouth guards are coverings worn over teeth, and often used to protect teeth from injury from teeth
grinding and during sports.
There are three types of mouth guards:
Stock mouth protectors are preformed and come ready to wear. They are inexpensive and can be
bought at most sporting good stores and department stores. However, little can be done to adjust
their fit, they are bulky and make breathing and talking difficult and they provide little or no protection.
Dentists do not recommend their use.
Boil and bite mouth protectors also can be bought at many sporting goods stores and may offer a
better fit than stock mouth protectors. The "boil and bite" mouth guard is made from thermoplastic
material. It is placed in hot water to soften, then placed in the mouth and shaped around the teeth
using finger and tongue pressure.
Custom-fitted mouth protectors are individually designed and made in a dental office. First, your
pediatric dentist will make an impression of your child's teeth and a mouth guard is then molded over
the model using a special material. Due to the use of the special material and because of the extra
time and work involved, this custom-made mouth guard is more expensive than the other types, but it
provides the most comfort and best fit and protection.
Generally, mouth guards cover your upper teeth only, but in some instances (such as if you wear
braces or another fixed dental appliance on your lower jaw), your pediatric dentist will make a mouth
guard for the lower teeth as well. Your pediatric dentist can suggest the best mouth guard for your
child. An effective mouth guard should be comfortable, resist tears, be durable and easy to clean, and
should not restrict your breathing or speech.
If your child grinds their teeth at night, a special mouth guard-type of dental appliance – called a
nocturnal bite plate or bite splint -- may be created to prevent tooth damage.
Who Needs a Mouth Guard?
Mouth guards should be used by anyone – especially children – who play contact sports such as
football, boxing, soccer, ice hockey, basketball, lacrosse, and field hockey. However, even those
participating in non contact sports (for example, gymnastics) and any recreational activity (for example,
skateboarding, mountain biking) that might pose a risk of injury to the mouth would benefit from
wearing a protective mouth guard.
Children who grind their teeth at night should have a nocturnal bite plate or bite splint made to
prevent tooth damage.
Why Should My Child Use a Mouth Guard When Playing Sports?
Because accidents can happen during any physical activity, the advantage of using a mouth guard is
that it can help limit the risk of mouth-related injuries to your lips, tongue, and soft tissues of your
mouth. Mouth guards also help your child avoid chipped or broken teeth, nerve damage to a tooth or
even tooth loss.
Can my Child wear a Mouth Guard if She or He Wears Braces?
Yes. Since an injury to the face could damage orthodontic brackets or other fixed appliances, a
properly fitted mouth guard may be particularly important for children who wear braces or have fixed
bridge work. Your pediatric dentist can determine the mouth guard that will provide the best
protection for your child's unique mouth work.
How Do I Care for My Child's Mouth Guard? To care for your child's mouth guard:
- Rinse the mouth guard with cold water or with a mouth rinse before and after each use and/or
clean it with toothpaste and a toothbrush. - Occasionally clean the mouth guard in cool, soapy water and rinse it thoroughly.
- Place the mouth guard in a firm, perforated container to store or transport it. This permits air
circulation and helps to prevent damage. - Protect the mouth guard from high temperatures – such as hot water, hot surfaces, or direct
sunlight – to minimize distorting its shape. - Occasionally check the mouth guard for general wear. If you find holes or tears in it or if it
becomes loose or causes discomfort, replace it. Bring the mouth guard to each regularly
scheduled dental visit of your child to have your pediatric dentist exam it.
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