Children’s Dentistry in Minot
We invite the entire family into Ness Family Dentistry, where Dr. Alex Ness, Dr. Stephanie Ness,, and our whole team provide compassionate children’s dentistry in addition to the services that keep your smile healthy and strong. Kids are at a higher risk for cavities than you might think — and our hygiene program helps to develop and reinforce healthy habits to ensure your child’s smile develops properly. Your Minot children’s dentist is at Ness Family Dentistry!
Special Services for Children
Kids are at the greatest risk for developing cavities between ages six and 14 or so. It’s the time when their tooth enamel is still thin and extra vulnerable to acids and bacteria. Shaky dental hygiene habits may not thoroughly clean around and between each tooth, every single time. To help fight against childhood tooth decay, we offer dental sealants and topical fluoride treatments.
Dental sealants are translucent coverings that we paint directly onto the surface of the back teeth, which are at the highest risk of developing decay. By applying a thin shield on each of these irregular surfaces, your child’s dentist can provide significant protection against decay for years to come. Fluoride treatments, applied topically as needed at the end of each checkup and cleaning, strengthen the tooth enamel to provide further protection.
Orthodontic Screening
Our team will monitor your child’s dental development throughout their childhood, looking for any early indicators that orthodontic care may be necessary to offer your child a straight, evenly balanced smile. However, around the age of eight, we’ll also recommend an orthodontic screening. During this appointment, we’ll capture x-ray images of your child’s full bite and underlying supportive structures. If we notice any places where teeth have developed in a less than ideal position, we can work with you to develop a treatment plan. It’s important that your child’s smile be evenly aligned not just because properly aligned smiles look great, but when the bite is not in proper alignment, they’re more prone to uneven wear, chips, and cracks in teeth that could lead to chronic oral health struggles.
Fluoride Treatments
An essential element in developing strong, healthy smiles, fluoride absorbed through drinking water or nutritional supplements should allow your child to develop healthy teeth with strong enamel. Once teeth erupt from the gum line, kids will need topical fluoride to keep their primary and permanent teeth strong. Most will receive adequate amounts of fluoride from their daily tooth brushing. For those younger patients who struggle with frequent decay or who show signs of having naturally weaker enamel, we may also recommend professional fluoride treatments during six month checkups. These treatments are quick and completely painless. We simply apply a coat of fluoride varnish to your child’s smile while they’re in the office. Then, you’ll need to make sure they refrain from eating or drinking for thirty minutes to allow the fluoride to be fully absorbed.
Cleanings & Checkups
The most essential part of every dental care plan for patients of any age is attending a regular preventive checkup and teeth cleaning appointment every six months. For kids, this is especially important. Your little ones are still learning to care for their smile, so in addition to screening for common warning signs of oral health conditions, we can also begin partnering with your child to develop good oral hygiene habits that will lead them to a lifetime of healthy smiles. In addition to the traditional professional cleaning, our hygienists will be able to ask your child about their at-home care routine, and walk them through fun and easy ways to care for their smiles at home. As always, our caring dentist will be happy to answer questions and carefully explain everything so your child feels right at home.
Schedule an appointment for your little one today! We look forward to developing a hygiene program built just for your child — to help the smile you love most thrive for years to come!