When your child comes in for their check-up, our friendly staff and dentists will take them to our comfortable exam chairs. You are welcome to accompany your child for the cleaning, especially for younger children, apprehensive children, or children with special needs. Simply let the dentist know, and we’ll find a comfortable seat for you.
If you are a new patient or this is their first check-up within the year, the dental assistant will first perform an x-ray scan of your child’s teeth so we can have the most up-to-date screening of your child’s oral health. At every check-up, your child will receive dental cleaning to ensure they leave our office with a brighter, cleaner, happier smile. Our dental assistant will be thorough but gentle when working on your child’s mouth.
Pain prevention is making sure we take care of issues BEFORE they become painful (ie; cavities, lesions, etc). At Pediatric Dentistry of Central Iowa, we encourage pain prevention with our regular cleaning services and oral examinations.
In order to prevent and treat tooth decay and damage for our young patients, we offer sealants, fluoride applications, and mouthguard fittings. Whether your child’s teeth are showing signs of decay or are being damaged from grinding, we have safe solutions to prevent further harm and treat the current health risks.
Sealants
Sealants are made of a plastic resin material that dentists apply to the top surface of a tooth that is showing early signs of decay, due to deep pits and grooves on the top of the molars. In order to prevent further decay, this sealant acts as a barrier to food and plaque. Sealants last for years with regular biting and eating, protecting your child’s mouth and preventing any further decay to the tooth.
Fluoride
At Pediatric Dentistry, we offer fluoride cleaning to give your child’s teeth an extra barrier of protection, preventing cavities, especially for children who get them often. Our dentists apply it as a flavored varnish, so your child will be able to pick their favorite flavor, and it’s placed on the teeth with a brush. It’s an easy process for getting stronger teeth!
Mouthguards
If your child typically grinds their teeth in their sleep, then you may want to contact your dentist about getting your child fitted for a mouthguard at Pediatric Dentistry. Teeth grinding can damage the bite and overall strength of your child’s teeth. We customize mouthguards to fit your child’s specific mouth and bite. We also specialize in making protective mouthguards for athletics such as football, basketball, hockey and other contact sports.
A dental emergency can easily be described as any abnormal oral condition that causes pain or urgent concern. Most often, it takes the form of an injury to the teeth, gums, or jaw. In addition to injuries, an abscess, toothache, or infection can cause pain, swelling, or fever. If your child has any of these symptoms, please stop into our office or give us a call to speak with a dentist.
Additional symptoms that require a visit or phone call with your child’s dentist include:
- Knocked out tooth
- Abscess
- Cut lip or gums
- Fractured or chipped tooth
- Jaw injury
- Swelling
- Toothache
If your child’s oral health requires immediate attention during our normal business hours, visit either of our office locations nearest you in Des Moines or Ankeny. If we are not open, please call our office number anytime to reach one of our dentists on call. They are always happy to offer advice and send you in the right direction to get your child treated quickly and safely.
The American Academy of Orthodontics recommends that all children should receive orthodontic assessment no later than the age of seven. Interceptive orthodontics is the assessment of the alignment of a patient’s jaw and teeth. Our dentists at Pediatric Dentistry can step in, diagnose a malocclusion (misalignment of jaw and teeth), and treat it in the most effective way for your child. The treatment is designed to grow with your child’s teeth to ensure they develop properly. When children are treated earlier in age with interceptive orthodontics, dentists can take advantage of their growth because their young teeth tend to be more receptive to the treatment and ultimately provide more effective results.
Join Our No Cavity Club at Pediatric Dentistry of Central Iowa! Celebrate cavity-free check-ups with us — every child earns a chance to win a new stuffed friend in our monthly drawing.
Make dental visits an experience filled with joy and prizes and embrace a cavity-free future.