We want to help keep your child’s mouth healthy and prevent issues rather than fix problems after they occur.

Early and frequent visits to the dentist’s office encourage a lasting, positive dental relationship throughout a child’s life. Routine checkups and cleanings also allow our dentists to identify tooth and gum issues early, which minimizes the chance for having to undergo in-depth treatment later in the child’s life.

Our goal is to set a foundation of trust between the child and dentist by having frequent contact and teaching opportunities. Lifelong dental health begins as a baby; we recommend making your baby’s first appointment within the first year of life. The American Dental Association, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Academy of Pediatrics also recommend visiting the dentist by the age of one.

Our preventive services - detailed below - include:

Dental Checkups & Preventive Cleanings

Dental Sealants

Custom Athletic Mouthguards

Fluoride Treatments

Regular Dental Checkups & Cleanings

At Lancaster Pediatric Dentistry, we want to help keep your child’s mouth healthy and prevent issues rather than fix problems after they occur. That’s why our pediatric dentists recommend bringing your child in for a routine dental checkup every six months starting at a year old, or no later than six months after you notice the first teeth coming in.

We want your children to have a positive experience with the dentist and that’s much more likely to happen if we do everything we can to avoid any needles or drills. Here are some of the benefits of bringing your child for a regular dental cleaning and checkup:

It keeps your child’s teeth white and squeaky clean. Over time, teeth gradually become more stained and lose their natural brilliance. Regular cleanings help to slow down this process so your child is able to have beautiful teeth for a long, long time.

It helps prevent your child needing long, painful treatments in the future. We want your child to have a healthy, radiant smile without any painful procedures. If we can see them every six months, we will be able to better fight tartar and plaque buildups, check for early signs of cavities, and any other potential problems with their teeth or gums. It will help prevent toothaches, swollen jaws and all sorts of unpleasant situations. Let’s catch it early before it gets serious!

We will help remind your child of those good dental hygiene habits that you’re teaching them at home. When children see us regularly, they are better able to recognize the importance of brushing, flossing and taking care of their dental health. We will also help you know how best to teach your child excellent dental hygiene habits based on their individual needs.

Regular visits help increase the likelihood that your children will maintain good dental habits on their own. As you bring your child in for routine checkups and cleanings, they will begin to develop personal motivation to take care of their teeth and gums. These good habits will become a foundation for life-long oral health. While it seems far off into the future, they’ll be much less likely to need false teeth, implants or dentures in their adult years.

When your child comes in for their appointment, we will go over helpful oral hygiene tips and tricks to keep healthy teeth and gums. We also have a page on our site with information you can access at any time - click here for our Oral Health guide!

New Patients & Emergency Appointments Welcome!

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Dental Sealants

Dental sealants are thin, plastic coatings typically painted on the back teeth and sealed with a special UV light. Sealants provide a protective shield that can prevent the growth of decay in the grooves of molars. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that school-aged children without sealants have almost three times more cavities than children with sealants.

Flouride Treatments

Fluoride is an important factor in optimal dental health – in fact, The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry reports that fluoride can reduce tooth decay by up to 70%.

Despite all efforts to teach good oral hygiene and keep regular dental checkups, many children are still at high risk for cavities. In many cases, the problem can be alleviated through maintaining a healthy level of fluoride for young children.

Custom Athletic Mouthguards

Studies show that custom mouthguards can reduce the risk of concussion by absorbing shock when an athlete experiences a head collision. Custom mouthguards will cost more than over-the-counter models, but studies show they’re much more effective in protecting the jaw and teeth. Our team is happy to talk with you and your athlete about the specific benefits of a custom mouthguard pertaining to their sport(s).

Fluoride is a mineral found in soil, water, other minerals and certain foods. It has been found to encourage remineralization of teeth, a process in which fluoride accumulates in the damaged part of the teeth and strengthens the tooth enamel. In many communities, fluoride is added to the city’s water sources in very low concentrations to help keep teeth strong. It is also included in many dental products such as toothpaste and mouthwash.

Because of its ability to remineralize, fluoride is a fantastic tool in preventing tooth decay, particularly for children. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry reports that fluoride can reduce tooth decay by up to 70%. It is crucial for babies and children between the ages of six months and 16 years to have sufficient fluoride exposure since this is when their primary and permanent teeth are coming in. Even babies who haven't had teeth erupt yet benefit from fluoride as it can help newly forming teeth grow strong and healthy. For children under six years old, fluoride also promotes the development of permanent teeth making it a challenge for acids to wreak havoc on the enamel.

For most children, the fluoride contained in community water supplies and in toothpaste is enough to help protect their teeth. For some children, usually in communities without fluoridated water (such as rural areas with well water), a fluoride deficiency can leave them susceptible to cavities and other oral health damage. In rare cases, too much fluoride exposure can lead to a condition called fluorosis or other health problems. Your pediatric dentist can determine whether your child is in need of additional fluoride treatment and the appropriate level for his/her individual circumstance.

Today's children's fluoride treatments are much more pleasant than they used to be! If your child needs some extra help to fight off cavities, our team offers many options for in-office and at-home fluoride treatments that will ensure your child receives just the right amount of fluoride. These include:

Fluoride treatments in the form of a gel, solution or foam that are applied in our office at every six-month checkup
Prescribing an effective fluoride-rich mouth rinse
Supplements taken orally as a tablet, drop or lozenge
More frequent visits to ensure adequate fluoride exposure
Education about fluoride and proper oral hygiene including discussing the use of fluoridated water and brushing with proper toothpaste.

Our pediatric specialists can help!

To schedule your child for a preventive cleaning and exam, please contact us to schedule an appointment. We can talk through all available preventive services during your appointment as well! Lancaster Pediatric Dentistry is dedicated to making dental visits easy, fun and enjoyable for kids of all ages.

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