At Summer Creek Dentistry in Fort Worth, Dr. Jasmine King is happy to meet the basic dental needs of children as young as three. Providing care to young patients is an important part of what we do because even little children are susceptible to problems like tooth decay and gum disease. In fact, children become vulnerable to the most common oral health problems as soon as they develop their first tooth, which is normally before they turn one. We offer children's dentistry in Fort Worth, TX at Summer Creek Dentistry.
To make your child’s first visit to our dental office more comfortable, we recommend bringing him or her with you on one of your own appointments. This will introduce your little one to the sights, sounds, and friendly faces of our Fort Worth dental office. We call this a Happy Visit. When it’s time for your child’s first dental checkup, Dr. King will complete a tooth-by-tooth exam to check for proper development. We’ll also look for signs of decay and other common issues.
As your little one grows, your child should see us twice a year for dental checkups and teeth cleanings. Regular appointments like these will help everyone in your family enjoy optimal oral health. With these appointments, we can also talk to your child about homecare techniques that will help him or her learn how to effectively brush and floss. Then, we’ll need you to reinforce what we teach through active involvement in their daily oral care.
Compared to other parts of your child’s mouth, their premolars and molars—the back teeth—are particularly prone to develop decay. Why? These teeth have deep grooves for grinding food, but without thorough brushing, debris and bacteria can easily build up in these spots, leading to cavities. To give your little one’s smile extra protection, Dr. King may recommend dental sealants. Sealants are applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to shield them from decay-causing bacteria for years to come.
After your child has had their teeth cleaned, we can quickly apply a highly concentrated treatment of fluoride to their teeth. This natural mineral, which is added to most dental products and even public drinking water, strengthens tooth enamel and makes it more difficult for harmful acids from bacteria to penetrate this protective layer. The entire treatment takes just a few minutes to complete, but it can help them avoid cavities in between dental visits.
At some point, most children are going to have tooth decay. After all, they are still learning the necessary skills to properly take care of their smiles. If and when a cavity affects your child, our team at Summer Creek Dentistry can provide a tooth-colored filling to restore the tooth’s strength, function, and beauty. This metal-free material is shaded to match the enamel, so no one will be able to tell that they ever had a cavity to begin with.
Does your child participate in sports? No matter your child’s skill level, they should wear a mouthguard if they are playing football, basketball, hockey, or lacrosse. However, even in non-contact sports like soccer or skateboarding, a hard impact to the mouth can harm your child’s smile. Unlike store-bought mouthguards that are one size fits all, a mouthguard purchased through our dental office is custom-made for your child, so it will fit comfortably and securely.
Are you due for a dental appointment with Dr. King? Call Summer Creek Dentistry today. We offer most popular cosmetic, restorative, and general dental services to help your child have a more confident smile. We’re happy to help young patients from Fort Worth, Haltom City, North, Burleson, Richland Hills, Benbrook, Crowley, and all surrounding cities.