Back-to-School Dental Visits

As the summer nears its end and you begin to prepare for another school year, don’t forget about the dental care visits that your child may be due for. Though it’s easy to get caught up in school supplies and new shoes, these routine checkups are much more important for a positive and healthy school year.

Keeping healthy teeth does far more than allow your child to smile with confidence at school. Countless studies show that a child’s oral health can have a major impact on their physical health as well as their emotional state. Dental issues like untreated tooth decay is a leading reason why children miss school days.

Why Now?

Whether your child’s school requires a dental health report before admittance or not, now is an excellent time to check back in with your family dentist and ensure your child’s dental health is in order for the upcoming year. We all know that as soon as the year starts, our calendars fill up quickly, making it very difficult to squeeze in routine dental visits or any follow-up treatment that may be necessary. Lastly, if you have dental insurance, your plan likely covers two preventative visits per year (six months apart). Most families find that it is most convenient to schedule these appointments during the summer break and winter break so that school and sports don’t have to be missed.

What Your Child Can Expect

During a routine dental visit, we will thoroughly evaluate your child’s oral health as well as clean the teeth and gums to ward off any diseases or conditions that could be brewing. You can assure your child that the entire process is painless and non-invasive. The following action steps are typically performed during these routine checkups:

• Visual evaluation of dental problems (bite, loose teeth, cavities, gum health)
• X-rays (to look for issues not visible to the naked eye and check emerging adult teeth)
• Remove plaque and tartar buildup (hardened deposits that your toothbrush can’t clean)
• Measure gum height and gum health
• Clean and polish the teeth (removing surface stains and smoothing the surface of teeth)
• Fluoride and/or sealant application (if necessary)
• Discuss need for athletic mouthguard
• Recommend further treatment (fillings, braces, etc) if needed

Is your child quickly losing days in the summer and gearing up to return to school? Please don’t forget to schedule your dental checkup to fully equip your child for a healthy and comfortable academic year. Gainesville Dental Group proudly offers Children’s Dentistry for your family’s convenience.

Posted on behalf of Gainesville Dental Group