Is Your Child’s Smile Ready for The New School Year?

Now that schools are open and kids are returning to classes, it is important to make sure they are in good oral health. The back-to-school checkup is a vital part of making sure your kids have a good school year. Whether your child is back in the classroom or continuing with virtual learning or homeschooling, this dental examination could mean the difference between your child having a great year of learning or a year interrupted with missed school due to dental problems.

Help Your Child Stay in School

Dental disease is responsible for over 50 million missed school days every year. Children have problems chewing, speaking and the pain and discomfort they experience from dental issues make it difficult to attend to their studies. Many of the dental problems in children encountered could have been avoided or minimized with early detection. That is the purpose of the back-to-school dental examination.

Your child’s dentist will determine if any dental work is needed. Early detection of cavities and gum disease can save your child from the pain and discomfort of severe dental problems. In the case of the youngest elementary school kids, if the problems are left untreated, they can cause trouble for the unerupted permanent teeth that are just below the primary teeth.

If the oral health of older children is neglected, the permanent teeth could be damaged. Severe decay could mean root canal therapy at best and tooth extraction at worst. When a child reaches the age of puberty, hormonal changes can change the environment of the mouth such that gums become more vulnerable to gingivitis.

Other Considerations

The back-to-school dental checkup also provides an opportunity for you to have questions about your child’s dental health answered. In addition to concerns about cavities and gum disease, some parents worry about the alignment of their child’s teeth. Misalignment could mean braces in the future. Sometimes treatment can be altered with early interventions.

Many young people play school sports. Mouthguards protect the teeth from sports injuries. If your child has one, the back-to-school checkup is the perfect time to bring it in and let the dentist decide if a new one is needed due to changes in your child’s mouth. If your child does not have one, you may want to discuss getting a custom-made mouthguard.

At Envision Dental, we are committed to ensuring that each member of your family has excellent dental care and maintains their best oral health. Make an appointment with us for your child’s back-to-school exam if you have not already done so.