Your childhood memories of visiting the dentist might not all be “warm and fuzzy.” Many adults, in fact, remember dreading each visit for days leading up to it. Let’s be honest—the actual visit was never as bad as the anticipation, but at the same time it is true that there was some pain involved, especially if a cavity or damaged tooth was the reason for the appointment. Whatever your dentistry memories are like from years ago, today your family dentist in Raleigh, NC has access to tools and products that make the average visit a far more enjoyable experience than it used to be. Here are a few of those modern developments, plus a special factor that you can’t order from a catalog!
SEALANTS
One of the most exciting new developments for young patients is the sealant. This product is a clear, thin coating that one of your dentist in Raleigh, NC skilled team members applies to the teeth to protect them against infection-causing bacteria. By creating a buffer between the food in the mouth and the actual surface of the teeth, a sealant has the potential to dramatically reduce the chances of cavities and other common issues developing.
It is important to note that even when a sealant is in place, the child still needs to brush and floss according to his dentist’s instructions. For one thing, once the sealant is gone, the child will need to have already established oral hygiene habits in order to maintain good oral health. Additionally, the sealant does not guarantee protection from tooth decay, so it is still important to remove food debris from the teeth on a daily basis. The most important role of the sealant is to boost the effectiveness of daily hygiene and help a child make it through the critical developmental years without tooth decay.
FLUORIDE VARNISH
Fluoride is a powerful force against tooth decay—so much so that most water districts in the U.S. add a small amount to their drinking water to help the public stay healthy. A routine cleaning by your dental hygienist incudes a fluoride treatment, but a fluoride varnish is different. You can think of it as an intensive, concentrated dose of fluoride that acts quickly on the teeth and builds a powerful defense against decay.
A fluoride varnish is a popular alternative to a mouth rinse for children 5 and under because there is no risk that the child will swallow the fluoride. In addition, children 5 and under are at high risk for tooth decay, and the increased fluoride content in the varnish helps minimize that risk.
Sealants and fluoride varnishes are incredibly valuable modern tools for accomplishing a goal of any parent: minimizing the number of visits to the dentist in Raleigh, NC! A few applications can help many children make it to adulthood with no more than routine cleanings.
THE “FAMILY DENTIST” IN RALEIGH, NC
The greatest products in the world will do little to set a child’s mind at ease if he finds the dentist, the hygienist, or the other staff members scary or untrustworthy. It might be hard to put into words just what it means to be good with kids, but you know it when you see it. Dr. Ladimer and his entire staff truly have the “family dentist” factor, and it’s common to see kids in the exam room with a smile on their face—and not just because Dr. Ladimer needs to see inside their mouth! We do our best to make kids (and their parents) comfortable during their visit, providing plenty of toys, books, and coloring books to play with. And when it’s time to go home, there is a fire truck full of toys for each little patient to choose from.
Every one of our patients is very important to us, but there is a special joy in helping a youngster fight off painful tooth decay and enjoy a healthy, comfortable childhood. Each one of us here at the office loves to see kids in the waiting room, and we think you’ll find that your kids will look forward to the next time they get to visit Dr. Ladimer and his staff of helpers.