Establishing a Dental Home For Your Child in Santa Monica

Our office at Vision Dental provides a child- and family-friendly environment filled with smiles and fun times!

We hope to provide you and your child with a comprehensive family-centered dental home by creating a positive atmosphere where each visit is both fun and informative!

As your child is constantly growing, each dental visit is unique, considering your child’s stage of development and age-appropriate preventive treatment needs. To help create a positive experience, your child can pick their favorite movie or show to play during the visit and will get a cool prize after!

Below are some common preventive services we provide to you and your child to help maintain healthy smiles!

Professional Dental Cleanings in Santa Monica

For most children, we recommend professional cleanings twice a year.

Good brushing and flossing techniques on a daily basis are the best way to maintain a healthy smile, but professional dental cleanings are also important to maintain good health. The mouth has many hard-to-reach areas that even the best toothbrush or floss are unable to reach. Dr. Andrew and our gentle hygienists use professional tools to help clean these areas during your child’s cleaning appointment.

A fun and equally important part of the cleaning appointment is to make sure your child understands how to brush and floss, as well as the importance of it. Kids often come in with tons of questions about our tools, what we are doing, and why we do it! Our specialized pediatric team loves to spend extra time with you and your child to review brushing techniques and explain why oral hygiene is important. Your child may even enjoy watching in the mirror as they get their teeth cleaned!

Regular Examination (Check-up)

During your child’s check-up, Dr. Andrew will carefully examine your child’s teeth, gums, and overall dental and jaw development. As children get older, we will continue to monitor their dental and skeletal development at each visit. If any problem is developing, it is best to catch it early so we can provide the most conservative treatment to address it.

 When indicated, Dr. Andrew may recommend dental radiographs (x-rays) as part of the check-up. Our office also uses the highest quality digital imaging equipment, which ensures our patients are getting the best and safest care possible.

After the check-up, Dr. Andrew will review the findings with you and your child. If any treatment is necessary, we will help create a plan that is tailored to your child with the goal of creating the most positive and comfortable environment.

Dietary Counseling

In addition to reviewing the best techniques and the importance of brushing and flossing at home, we also spend time reviewing your child’s diet and how it may affect dental health.

As your child grows, his or her diet will continue to change. We are here for you to evaluate your child’s diet to determine cavity risk and suggest alternatives if needed as part of our preventive program.

Fluoride Treatments

Fluoride is a natural mineral that strengthens tooth enamel, making it more resistant to the acid from bacteria that causes cavities. It also helps repair areas where cavities may have just started. Fluoride is found in most toothpastes and works to prevent cavities with regular brushing. During your child’s preventive visits, we may recommend a fluoride treatment to help strengthen your child’s teeth.

Sealants

Sealants are thin tooth-colored protective layers over the pits and fissures of molars. They work to keep out plaque and food debris and decrease your child’s risk of decay. 

The procedure to place sealants is fairly simple and does not involve any anesthesia or drilling. The tooth is carefully cleaned and dried, and then the sealant is painted over the pits and fissures. Our office uses the highest quality sealant materials, which are all BPA-free.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recognizes dental sealants can play an important role in the prevention of cavities. When properly applied and maintained, sealants can be successful in protecting the chewing surfaces of the back molars.

At your child’s regular dental visits, we will ensure the sealants are well-maintained and recommend repairing them as indicated.