Enhancing Your Child’s Smile: The Importance of Professional Cleanings
The CDC reports that tooth decay is the most common chronic condition among children in the U.S.; the good news is that it’s preventable and treatable! By combining routine dental checkups with healthy at-home habits, we can help prevent cavities and other oral issues — even for patients at higher risk. At Amp Orthodontics & Kids Dental, our mission is to partner with families to create an achievable, age-appropriate preventive care plan that ensures healthy, glowing smiles for years to come.
What happens during a dental checkup?
Checkups at Amp Orthodontics & Kids Dental in Clemmons, North Carolina, focus on two key components: professional cleaning and a thorough dental exam.
During the cleaning, our skilled hygienists not only remove plaque, tartar, and surface stains, but they also provide caregivers with tips and techniques for effectively cleaning gums and brushing teeth at every stage of your child’s development. This helps to set children up with the skills and confidence to take charge of their own oral care. Dr. Adam Hoina and our team also offer valuable strategies for preventing oral health issues, reducing the risk of oral cancer, and promoting “tooth-friendly” nutrition and hydration habits.
During the exam, Dr. Hoina conducts a comprehensive evaluation of your child’s teeth, gums, and jaw to ensure they are developing properly and to identify any early signs of dental issues. This proactive approach helps to keep your child’s smile healthy and strong.
Do you need to take X-rays?
X-rays are a crucial part of Dr. Hoina’s assessment, allowing us to detect cavities, evaluate the growth and development of teeth, diagnose bone conditions, and identify problems after injuries.
My child brushes and flosses. Why do they need a cleaning at your office?
We’re thrilled that your child is keeping up with their oral care at home — great job! As a toddler parent, Dr. Hoina knows this is no small feat.
However, even the best brushing and flossing can’t completely eliminate all plaque.
Plaque is a sticky film filled with bacteria that continuously forms on the teeth. If not fully removed, it erodes the tooth structure and triggers a process that breaks down the supportive tissue attachments of the gums and jawbone, leading to tooth decay and gum disease.
Eventually, plaque hardens into tartar, which builds up both above and below the gum line and can only be removed by a trained dental professional using specialized tools.
Our skilled hygienists safely and effectively remove tartar to keep your child’s teeth and gums healthy.
Does the dentist clean my child’s teeth?
Our dental hygienists are highly skilled and experienced in providing professional cleanings during checkups. They gently coach young patients through the process while thoroughly cleaning the teeth and gumline, helping even our most apprehensive patients feel at ease. Special dental instruments are used to lift plaque, tartar, and surface stains.
In some cases, Dr. Hoina may also perform the cleaning, especially for young patients who feel more comfortable with their dentist handling the entire visit. Whether it’s our hygienist or Dr. Hoina, your child will always receive attentive, gentle, and thorough care.
Why is the professional cleaning so important?
By removing plaque build-up, our hygienists minimize the risk of developing tooth decay and gum disease — the leading causes of tooth loss. Regular cleanings help to inhibit the bacteria responsible for bad breath. They also promote healthy, glowing smiles by preventing stains from setting into the teeth.
Why should I trust my child’s smile to Amp Orthodontics & Kids Dental?
At Amp Orthodontics & Kids Dental, our approach is centered around minimally invasive dentistry. We always prioritize preserving as much of your child’s natural tooth structure and healthy tissues as possible. Parents can trust that our recommendations are made with their child’s best interests in mind—we never suggest unnecessary treatments. Instead, we emphasize prevention through regular checkups and services like dental sealants and biomimetic techniques that mitigate the need for more extensive procedures. Call 336-999-0123 to schedule your child’s checkup today at our Clemmons, NC office and experience our commitment to gentle, conservative dental care from a kid’s dentist who cares.
