Around 9% of children experience dental anxiety, which is one of the major challenges of taking your child to a pediatric dentist. Despite the common fear, it’s important to go — otherwise, their teeth may deteriorate and it may get worse for them.
How often should your child go? Here’s everything you need to know.
How Often to Visit a Pediatric Dentist
When it comes to how often your child will need to see a pediatric dentist in Dallas, once every six months is the recommendation.
This isn’t always true, however. Some children have issues with cleaning their teeth or may have aggressive bacteria which means that they need more frequent cleanings. If they’ve gone a long time without a professional dental visit, they may need a few appointments to rectify the situation.
They may also recommend more frequent visits (such as every three months) for the comfort of the child, even if there’s no work required. This can help build confidence in a child and help them see that there’s nothing to be afraid of at the dentist and keep any more serious work at bay, lessening their anxiety.
You can also request this from your pediatric dentist if you feel it’s something that’d help your child. Any good dentist should be willing to work with you to see what they can do.
Your pediatric dentist in Fort Worth will be able to give you a clearer idea of how often your child needs to visit. They won’t recommend anything more than necessary.
What Needs to Be Done During Visits
The best pediatric dentist in Fort Worth will keep your child’s mouth sparkling and educate them on how to take care of their teeth so that every time they visit, a check-up and light cleaning is needed. If they take care of their mouth between appointments, they shouldn’t require further work.
However, the longer you go between appointments, the more chance there is that they’ll need work done.
For example, if bacteria has set in, they may need a deep cleaning to get rid of it. If it’s gotten to a bad point, they may require cavities. As children, anything further shouldn’t be necessary unless their oral hygiene has been neglected for a long time.
At dental appointments, it’s likely that your local pediatric dentist will also perform x-rays. As children are still growing and their teeth are still moving, there’s a chance they might move out of alignment and your child may require braces.
When in Doubt, Ask!
If you’re not sure how often your specific child needs to see a pediatric dentist, ask! The dentist will be able to make the best recommendation based on your child’s situation, the work they need to be done, and their dental anxiety.
Remember, it gets easier!
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