Bear Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
As a board-certified pediatric dentist for infants in McKinney and father of two, Dr. Dennis Bear understands the importance of providing added protection to your child’s developing teeth. One of the safest, most effective ways he can do this with his patients is to provide fluoride treatments. No matter if your child is considered high-risk for cavities or not, this natural mineral makes a dramatic difference when combatting tooth decay and strengthening tooth enamel. Not only is the process quick and easy to perform, but it will help keep your child’s smile better protected in-between their six-month dental appointments. Contact a member of our team today to schedule an appointment.
Safe and Effective Treatment
for Combatting Tooth Decay
Board-Certified Pediatric
Dentist, Dr. Dennis Bear
Compassionate and
Gentle Approach
You will notice over time that your child’s brushing and flossing abilities will improve; however, until they reach the age of 7 or 8, they are likely unable to adequately clean their teeth on their own. As a result, they may miss those hard to reach areas of their mouth (i.e. premolars and molars), avoid flossing, or simply forgo their oral hygiene routine altogether if your or another adult is not closely monitoring their routine.
Fluoride treatments serve as a safeguard for their growing and often cavity-prone smile. As a natural mineral, it is most commonly found in toothpaste and community drinking water. Even if your child is getting it via these avenues, it is helpful to make sure they receive fluoride treatments during their regular checkup and cleaning appointments with a kid’s dentist in McKinney. Not only will it help to strengthen their tooth enamel and minimize the potential for dental injury, but it will also combat tooth decay, preventing the need for future fillings or dental crowns.
During your child’s regular dental appointment, a member of our team will ask if you would like your child to receive a fluoride treatment. If you agree, we will incorporate it into the visit, so you do not have to worry about scheduling a separate appointment for this quick and easy treatment.
Once our hygienist has finished cleaning and removing any calcified plaque from their teeth, we will apply a fluoride varnish to each tooth. The process takes only a few minutes (or less), and it is recommended that your child avoid eating or drinking for at least 30 minutes to allow the fluoride to thoroughly set in.
This simple step will keep their teeth better protected between appointments and decrease their risk for cavity development.
As your child grows, it becomes more important that these fluoride treatments continue. But no matter the age, receiving adequate (and safe) amounts of fluoride is beneficial to an individual’s overall oral health.
As tooth enamel wears down over time, fluoride works to restore minerals at the tooth’s surface, allowing for better protection from daily wear and tear. While it is unable to remove decay that is already present, it can work to prevent it from penetrating further into the tooth and resulting in the need for a dental filling or crown.
Benefitting patients of all ages, fluoride can make a dramatic difference in the health of a child’s smile when introduced early on. According to a study published in the Cochrane Library, it is believed that 43% of children and teens who received fluoride treatments for one year had fewer cavities and decay than those who did not receive fluoride.
By incorporating this preventive treatment into your child’s regular oral hygiene visits with a dentist for kids in McKinney, you can expect your little one to enjoy greater oral and overall health as they grow.
