- Mon - Thu: 8am - 4pm
- #####Fri: 8am - 2pm
Our highest priority at Petite Smiles is ensuring that your child is comfortable with dentistry and keeping their teeth as healthy as possible for as long as possible. If your child has their first tooth or has celebrated their first birthday, then it’s time to schedule a dental cleaning at least every six months.
Regular dental cleanings and checkups are straightforward and routine, and here’s what your child can expect during their dental appointment:
After the parent has checked in and filled out the necessary paperwork, your dental team member will warmly introduce themselves and usher your child to the treatment area.
Once in the treatment area, they will mentally prepare the child and tell them precisely what they’re going to do in kid-friendly language so that there are no surprises—which can help lessen nerves.
If the child is old enough, we will ask them to brush their teeth independently. We do this to take notes on their dexterity and oral hygiene habits. Also, our dental assistant might ask the parent or the child simple questions about their diet, at-home dental hygiene habits, and other information regarding their oral health so that we can provide knowledgeable, patient-driven education at the end of the appointment.
To keep your child comfortable and entertained, we offer TV screens and headphones to help them relax during treatment.
If necessary, your dentist might use our comfortable intra-oral camera to snap some close-up pictures of your child’s teeth. The purpose of this is to ensure that we don’t miss any subtle signs of dental decay or other abnormalities that are challenging to see with the naked eye.
Next, the dentist will “count teeth,” a child-friendly euphemism for thoroughly looking at the teeth and soft tissues inside the mouth. She will probe the teeth and gums to check for warning signs of cavities and gum disease.
At Petite Smiles, we understand that parents are equally part of the pediatric dentistry experience. Thus, we kept parents in mind when designing different aspects of our practice. From offering same-day dental appointments to never skimping on extravagance, we believe that our parents deserve to be pampered partners in their children’s pediatric dentistry experience.
Based on parent approval, our dentist will apply dental sealants after methodically scrubbing the teeth and gums. These add-on treatments only take a few minutes to complete and are typically pain-free.
Dental sealants protect chewing surfaces from decay by covering them with a protective armor that barricades germs and food particles. Furthermore, the CDC suggests that sealants can guard teeth against 80% of cavities for two years.
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral commonly found in rocks, groundwater, and plants. Since this mineral can prevent cavities, many communities add it to their drinking water, and it is a common ingredient in dental products. In the correct dose, fluoride is not only safe, but it can keep your child’s smile healthy and strong. During pediatric fluoride treatments, your dentist will paint a fluoridated varnish on your child’s teeth after cleaning them.
Finally, at the end of every appointment, the dentist will verbally reinforce at-home oral hygiene techniques with the child and their parent or guardian. Depending on the child’s age, we might suggest additional measures (such as orthodontic treatment, dental sealants, or fluoride treatment) that can improve the health and appearance of your child’s smile.
Book your children’s next kids teeth cleanings in Lorton, VA, by calling (703)-688-2155 or messaging us online.
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