Even though we are a downtown clinic, Dr. Seminara and his team offer services to the entire family, including kids. According to the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry and the Canadian Dental Association, a child should first visit the dentist around 1 years old. This may sound young, but it’s never too early to develop good habits, and especially to answer any questions you may have about your child’s dental health.

Here are 3 reasons to take your child for dental exams:

• You can find out if the cleaning you do at home is working.
• Your dentist can find problems right away and fix them.
• Your child can learn that going to the dentist helps prevent problems.

Regular examinations in children, as in adults, can help to avoid problems by detecting them early. Some procedures that are common for children are:

Sealants
A sealant is a thin plastic coating that we place in the deep grooves of permanent molars in children. Usually, these are placed after the eruption of the first and second permanent molars, at ages 6 and 12 respectively. Sealants are an easy way to help prevent cavities in new adult teeth.

Fluoride
Fluoride is a mineral found in soil, water (both fresh and salt) and various foods. It has a positive effect on oral health by making teeth more resistant to decay. Fluoride can also prevent or even reverse tooth decay that has started.