The Benefit of Sealants!

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As soon as the first tooth erupts, cavities instantly become children’s dental archenemy making regular brushing extremely necessary. At Smiles for Kids, we place a great emphasis on prevention. That includes diet and oral hygiene instruction with patients and caregivers, fluoride application and specifically, sealants. Sealants are a protective coating for the grooves of teeth where toothbrush bristles and floss can’t reach, most specifically the back teeth such as premolars and molars.

Think of sealants as the Captain America shields against tooth decay. They are recommended for baby and adult teeth with deep pits and grooves that are susceptible to bacteria, plaque retention and acid attack, as well as for patients with a history of cavities or at higher risk for future cavities.       

According to scientific studies, children aged 5-10 years with sealants applied, sealants reduced cavities between 11% and 51% compared to those with no sealant, at 24 months. Another study also found dental sealants to reduce more tooth decay in the grooves of children’s molars than fluoride varnish application.

Aside from being effective, dental sealants are safe and affordable too! Insurance companies understand their impressive protection and cover them in large percentage. The cost of 4 sealants is close to the cost of one filling.

Talk to your pediatric dentist about sealants! They will examine your child’s teeth and report to you if dental sealants are appropriate for your child’s age and condition. Note that not all children need these. To give you an idea, kids six years of age are the best candidates for sealants because it is the age when the first permanent molars appear and are most vulnerable. Keep in mind that even with dental sealants applied, children still need to get regular dental checkups, cleanings, x-rays and fluoride treatments. Sealants may be applied by the dentist, the dental hygienist or dental assistant that is properly trained and certified in placing sealants.

The key to proper sealant placement and retention is good isolation and technique. We like to use Isolite dental isolation systems when placing sealants because they have a built-in bite block, control the patient’s cheeks and tongue while protecting the airway, come in many sizes and has a light for better illumination of the mouth. The edges of the Isolite can be trimmed for patient comfort if necessary. You can find out more about this on our clinical updates page!

Sealants are non-invasive, easy to place, cost-effective and a critical player in the fight against dental caries!

October Employee of the Month!

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It’s November and we’re so excited to announce our next Employee of the Month who was a Rockstar for September! Drum roll please…

Congratulations Roger!

He is our awesome dental assistant! Here is what our team had to say about him:

“Roger is a reliable, hardworking team player! He keeps the energy in the office light and makes it fun.”

“Roger is learning everything and communicates well with staff when needed !:)”

“Roger has grown more confident in his role and has no problem stepping up to help if asked.”

Smiles for Kids is lucky to have you on our team!

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Annual Halloween Candy Buy Back

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It's almost that time of the year to go Trick-or-Treating!! 

We are having our Annual Halloween Candy Buy Back program starting NOW! Have your kids bring their left over Halloween candy to our office and trade it in for $1.00 per pound (up to $5.00). We will donate the candy along with toothbrushes to our troops overseas through Operation Gratitude!

You have until November 13th to bring in your candy!

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September Employee of the Month!

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October and Fall are finally here!! We are just enjoying this beautiful weather, aren’t you? With the start of a new month, means we got to vote for a new Employee of the Month for September! The winner is…

Brittany!

She is our awesome dental assistant and has been a part of the team for over 6 years! Here is what our team had to say about her:

“Brittany is always on top of her game & supportive of the team when needed. She is sweet & great with patients!”

“Brittany really takes the lead when we’re shorthanded and knows how to get things done. She is a great assistant and team member!

“She is very helpful and no matter what I ask, she helps me especially me starting in a new place!”

“Brittany helps in all areas in the back. She does great jumping in OP when needed!”

Congratulations Brittany! It is well deserved. We’re so thankful to have you on our Smiles for Kids Team!!

October is National Dental Hygiene Month

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Dental decay is the most common chronic disease of childhood, affecting 50 percent of children by middle childhood and nearly 70 percent by late adolescence. Luckily, early childhood caries can be easily prevented by instilling a proper oral hygiene routine at an early age. By emphasizing good oral health habits as early as infancy, parents can help lay the foundation for a lifelong, effective oral health routine.

Dental Hygiene Tips:

brush twice daily with fluoridated toothpaste, floss once daily to clean in-between the teeth where your toothbrush can’t reach, and then rinse with fluoride mouth rinse at least once daily to reduce oral bacteria and maintain fresh breath!

We want to thank our awesome dental hygienists: Stefanie, Jamie and Allison! They spend quality time with each and every patient during their dental cleanings, educating them on how they can improve their oral hygiene habits at home. They review brushing and flossing techniques, and other tips and tricks! We are so thankful for hygienists that truly care about our patients and enjoy taking the extra time they need.

Our goal at Smiles for Kids is to cultivate relationships with our patients and empower them to have a lifelong beautiful, healthy and confident smile.

August Employee of the Month!

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Ms. Allison is one of our awesome hygienists at Heights Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics. This summer, she has been coming to Smiles for Kids to help us on Thursdays. She has been a huge help taking care of our patients and always has a positive attitude! The team really enjoys having her here! She was voted this month’s Employee of the Month!

Congrats Allison!

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September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month!

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Did you know that 1 in 3 children in the United States is either overweight or obese? Obesity increases a child's risk for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, asthma, and sleep apnea.

Luckily, we can help prevent childhood obesity. The Smiles for Kids team encourages your family to make these changes together to help minimize your child's risk:

(1) Eat healthy meals together. Try to incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables into every meal of the day. Avoid eating refined sugars. If you're eating grains, choose whole-grain foods. Have your kids help prepare meals so they can learn about healthy choices and portion sizes.

(2) Play together. Encourage your kids to get active. They can play sports, go on a walk with the family, or even ride their bike around the neighborhood. Try to encourage 30-60 minutes of activity time every day.

(3) Limit their screen time. Though ipads and computers are very tempting, try to limit the amount of time your child plays video games or watches television.

(4) Talk to your pediatrician. Know your child's BMI (body mass index) and track it as they grow. It is a calculation based off of your child's weight and height.

These small changes can make a world of difference. We hope that you will spread the word about National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month!

Tips for picking out a new toothbrush and toothpaste!

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Shopping for a new toothbrush or toothpaste can be hard! Just look at all of those options in the grocery store aisle!

⭐️Choose a toothbrush designed for children’s smaller hands and mouths. Look for large handles that help children control the toothbrush.

⭐️The best toothbrushes have soft bristles that clean while being gentle on the gums. Remember to throw out a toothbrush after 3 months or sooner if the bristles are fraying. Frayed bristles can harm the gums and are not as effective in cleaning teeth.

⭐️ Use toothpaste with fluoride and the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance.

⭐️For children under 3, use a smear or “rice-sized” amount of fluoridated toothpaste on the brush. For ages 3-6, use only a “pea-sized” amount. Careful supervision is encouraged.

⭐️When all sides of a tooth cannot be cleaned by brushing alone (because the teeth are touching or crowded), it is time to begin flossing the teeth!

Every time you visit us at Smiles for Kids for your dental checkup, we will provide you an age-appropriate toothbrush, floss, fluoride toothpaste and a 2 minute timer!