They waited a long time to finally be able to adopt a child. Unable to have kids of their own and to find it nearly impossible to adopt an infant, they opened their home to a young child. Now, they want to find an excellent Pediatric Dentist in Broken Arrow OK because this youngster’s dental health has been neglected. Click here to learn more about one particular dental clinic focusing on pediatric patients.
A New Start
Studies have found that foster kids often have problems with their teeth. They’ve lived with neglectful parents before being placed in foster care, and they haven’t practiced good oral hygiene. They may not have seen a dentist in years, if ever. Now, after having been adopted, the child’s care will be covered under one of the adoptive parent’s dental insurance policies through work.
A Compassionate Dentist
A Pediatric Dentist in Broken Arrow OK knows the importance of being patient and compassionate with a child who isn’t familiar with dental appointments. The first appointment will be for the checkup and professional teeth cleaning. If tooth decay needs to be removed, that will be done during a followup appointment.
If a lot of dental work must be completed, the dentist may recommend mild sedation to soothe the child’s anxiety. If the youngster is more fortunate and only has a small cavity or two, those can probably be filled without sedation unless the child is really scared and upset.
Preventive Strategies
Preventive strategies now can be employed while the youngster adjusts to the idea of brushing and flossing routinely. Fluoride treatments at a clinic like Kid’s Dental may be advisable to strengthen tooth enamel. Dental sealants applied to the grooves in the back teeth prevent food particles from lodging there. These are common places for cavities to develop. Flossing should be done daily to remove particles and plaque from between the teeth. The parents may need to do this for the child at first.
Bringing the child back to the clinic every six months for routine appointments helps this young person become accustomed to receiving professional dental care. The child will learn to feel safe and the anxiety will gradually dissipate.
For more information on child dental care and the treatment options we offer, contact us to answer any of your questions.