Dental checkups for children and adults
Children
Dental care for children is best started before permanent teeth come in. The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) recommends a first dental visit by the child's first birthday or within 6 months after the first primary teeth appear, whichever comes first, so that the child's oral health and any potential problems can be checked.1
Factors that may increase the risk that your child will develop dental problems include:2
- A high-risk pregnancy or difficult delivery.
- Birth defects or developmental disabilities.
- A family history of moderate to severe dental disease.
- Prolonged use of nursing bottles.
- High levels of bacteria in the saliva.
- Limited access to dental treatment.
- Frequent illness or taking medications for long periods of time.
Experts recommend that babies with dental problems caused by trauma, disease, or a developmental abnormality should be seen by a dentist immediately. If these dental problems are not limited to the surfaces of the teeth, the baby should be seen also by a pediatrician or general practitioner. For more information, see the topics Mouth Problems, Non-Injury, and Mouth and Dental Injuries.
Routine dental checkups for adults, teens, and children
See your dentist once or twice a year. Your dentist will examine your teeth and gums for signs of tooth decay, gum disease, and other health problems.
- A dental hygienist will clean your teeth by scraping hard mineral buildup (tartar) off of your teeth with a small metal tool, flossing your teeth, using a polishing compound, and applying fluoride to help clean your teeth. Cleanings usually aren't painful.
- Occasionally your dentist will want to take X-rays. The X-rays take only a few minutes.
- The dentist will have you put on a heavy apron to shield your body from X-rays. Everyone else in the room will either wear a protective apron or step behind a protective shield.
- The dentist or technician will have you bite down on a small piece of plastic. This will help align the teeth properly for the machine. The dentist will repeat this process several times to get pictures of all your teeth.
- If necessary, a dentist may put a sealant on the chewing surface of your back teeth to help prevent cavities. Sealants keep food and bacteria from getting stuck in the rough chewing surfaces or grooves of your teeth, and protect your teeth from plaque.
- A dentist or hygienist may apply a fluoride solution directly to your teeth to help prevent tooth decay. The dentist may recommend a series of fluoride applications.
- People who are prone to infections may need to take antibiotics before any dental work is done. This includes those who have:
- Risk factors for endocarditis.
- An impaired immune system.
- Had recent major surgeries or have man-made body parts, such as an artificial hip or heart valve.
- A genetic abnormality of the heart valve.
If you do not have any active tooth decay or gum disease, changes in your brushing and flossing habits often should not be necessary.
For more information, see the topic Basic Dental Care.
| Author: | Jeannette Curtis Douglas Dana | Last Updated: July 13, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Steven K. Patterson, BSc, DDS, MPH - Dentist | |
 | ||
| |