Is My Child a Candidate for Fluoride Treatment?

As a parent, you want to ensure that your child has a perfect, virtually pain-free smile. Regular visits to your child’s dentist for exams and cleanings are one way you can safeguard your little one’s oral health. Fluoride treatments are another proactive step you can take to help prevent childhood cavities from forming.

The team at Grove Dental Group and Orthodontics in Wyomissing, PA offers fluoride treatments for pediatric patients. The American Dental Association (ADA), the American Medical Association (AMA), and the World Health Organization (WHO) all acknowledge that fluoride treatments are a powerful cavity preventive for pediatric patients. In regions where fluoride is added to local drinking water, children tend to suffer fewer cavities.

A member of our team will evaluate your child's needs to determine if fluoride treatment is an optimal choice to help prevent cavities from developing. Usually, fluoride treatments are reserved for pediatric patients with developing teeth or other individuals who might be at an increased risk for developing cavities. On occasion, we will recommend fluoride treatments for adult patients if they do not have fluoride in their drinking water.

All about fluoride treatments

When undergoing fluoride treatments, your child will have a choice of flavors that make the fluoride treatment more enjoyable. Once your child picks their favorite flavor, one of our technicians at Grove Dental Group and Orthodontics in Wyomissing, PA will start preparing the gel or paint-on fluoride formula.

After applying the fluoride treatment to the teeth, the solution will need to stay on the teeth for one to four minutes to sufficiently penetrate the enamel of the teeth. Suction is used to remove any extra fluoride during the process because your child cannot rinse their mouth during the procedure. Following the treatment, your child cannot eat or drink for at least 30 minutes.

If your child should accidentally swallow some of the fluoride, they might suffer from a stomach upset which will resolve itself in about 24 hours.

On occasion, we will prescribe fluoride supplements for home use. However, fluoride in a heavy dose is toxic, so parents should always monitor their child’s use of the fluoride and keep the prescription medication out of the child’s reach.

Fluoride treatments are a wonderful way to not only help prevent cavities but also strengthen the enamel of the teeth for a lifetime of oral health. Following fluoride treatments, your child should regularly brush and floss their teeth twice a day and maintain routine dental exams and cleanings.

Most dental insurance companies cover fluoride treatments for children. The team at Grove Dental Group and Orthodontics in Wyomissing, PA will work closely with your insurance company and determine any out-of-pocket expenses that you might face. If you should need to pay for your child’s fluoride treatments, Grove Dental Group and Orthodontics in Wyomissing, PA does accept several payment methods and offers special financing options.

Schedule an appointment for fluoride treatments in Wyomissing, PA

If you would like to learn more about if fluoride treatments will benefit your child’s oral health, then we encourage you to make an appointment today. A member of our team will outline what you can expect from fluoride treatments and evaluate if your child is a suitable candidate.