Dental Checkups & Cleanings - St. Catharines and Hamilton, ON

Set Your Child Up for a Lifetime of Oral Health

Let’s face it: children aren’t always the best about monitoring their own oral health. That’s why it’s so important for children to see their dentist regularly as soon as their first teeth come in. By bringing your child to Coral Kids Dentistry and Braces in St. Catharines or Hamilton for their regular dental checkups and cleanings, you can help teach them about proper oral care while our skilled team of dentists addresses any issues before they can become big problems. Contact us today to schedule your child for an appointment!

Why Choose Coral Kids Dentistry and Braces for Dental Checkups & Cleanings?

A Team of Pediatric Dentists Eager to Help
Clean and Kid-Friendly Office Environment
Dental Sedation Options Available

Why Are Regular Dental Checkups & Cleanings Important?

Whether the patient is a child or an adult, skipping dental appointments can have nasty consequences. Dental checkups and cleanings help prevent tooth decay and gum disease that may require more expensive treatments like root canals if they are allowed to progress. Insurance almost always covers two checkups and cleanings per year, but restorative treatments like fillings and root canals are usually only covered at 50%.

Routine dental appointments can also prevent dental emergencies such as a painful toothache or tooth loss. Poor oral health is also linked to overall health issues like heart disease and diabetes, and getting into the right oral care habits early can make all of the difference for your child’s health over their lifetime. By taking your child to regular dental appointments, you can prevent dental health issues that require more expensive treatments to resolve.

What to Expect During a Dental Checkup

When you bring your child to our office, you can expect our team to visually inspect their gums, teeth, overall bite, and existing dental work to screen for issues like tooth decay and gum disease as well as oral cancer. We’ll also probably take X-rays at least once a year to screen for internal problems. If we find any issues, we’ll develop the appropriate treatment plan, and we’ll be more than happy to answer questions you have about treatment or at-home oral hygiene. We’ll also update and review your child’s medical history and list of medications so that we can treat them safely and effectively.

What to Expect During a Dental Cleaning

Even if your child brushes and flosses every day, there are some parts of their mouth that they cannot clean on their own. During a professional cleaning, our team will use special instruments to remove plaque and tartar that have accumulated between your child’s teeth and their gumline to reduce the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath. We’ll also polish your child’s teeth to remove surface stains and floss them to eliminate food debris. We may also perform a fluoride treatment to reinforce your child’s growing teeth and prevent tooth decay.

Checkups & Cleanings FAQs

How long does a dental exam take?

A regular dental exam is completed by your child’s dentist and usually involves an oral cancer screening, as well as a visual examination of their teeth, gums, tongue, and other oral tissues.

Their dentist will also examine their teeth for signs of decay, inspect their bite to ensure there are no alignment issues, and address any other concerns you or your child may have. They will also examine any existing restorations like crowns or fillings.

In total, the examination portion of a routine dental checkup and cleaning should take between 10 and 15 minutes, but this can vary from patient to patient.

How long does a regular dental cleaning take?

As long as your child does not have gum disease or any signs of gum disease and they visit the dentist every six months, they’ll likely only need a regular dental cleaning.

With proper at-home oral hygiene, including brushing twice a day and flossing daily, their cleaning should only take about 30 minutes.

If they do require a deep cleaning, this will likely take longer, or may require multiple visits, but this will depend on their individual oral health.

How often does my child need to get dental X-rays?

In most cases, dental X-rays are completed during your child’s routine dental checkups every six months and only take a few moments to capture. There are three types of dental X-rays taken at different times:

Bitewings are typically done every year to detect cavities
Periapical X-rays are used in treatment planning and the identification of issues with the roots of the teeth and are taken on an as-needed basis.
Panoramic X-rays should be taken every five years to help identify developmental issues such as orthodontic concerns and wisdom tooth growth.

The type of X-rays your child needs depends on the last time they received them, whether they need to undergo any dental treatments, and whether they have any concerning symptoms like jaw or tooth pain. Other factors include their age, oral health history, genetic issues, and any preexisting medical conditions.

Why do dentists recommend fluoride treatment after dental cleanings?

Fluoride treatment is recommended after dental cleanings for most patients because it can help reduce tooth sensitivity, strengthen the enamel, and prevent cavities. This can be especially helpful in children who are prone to tooth decay.

This treatment usually only takes a minute and typically involves the dental hygienist brushing a fluoridated gel or foam over your child’s freshly cleaned teeth.

After receiving fluoride treatment, please follow their dentist’s instructions and do not allow them to eat or drink anything for an hour to allow the fluoride to properly penetrate the enamel.