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Is your child ready for school to start again? You\u2019re probably spending the last few precious weeks of summer making sure they have the supplies they need for their new classes, but if your little ones haven\u2019t received a dental checkup during their vacation, now may be your best chance to make an appointment. Here are 4 reasons to visit your child\u2019s dentist before the new school year.<\/p>\n
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A dental appointment during the school year often means pulling your child out of class. This means needing to take tests, in-class assignments, homework and extracurricular activities into account. This can make it difficult to find a good time without running the risk that your child will miss something important or will need to do make-up work later. It\u2019s much more convenient to have the visit done while they still have plenty of wide-open days to work with.<\/p>\n
Because so many families are on vacation, summer is usually a slower season for dental offices. Once classes start again, though, appointment schedules tend to fill up. (This is especially true for early morning and late afternoon visits, which tend to be more popular.) \u00a0Making the appointment sooner rather than later will help you beat the rush and make it more likely that you\u2019ll get a time slot that you want.<\/p>\n
Some school districts will require you to provide current medical records for your child. Even in situations where it\u2019s not a requirement, it\u2019s best to have the information on hand in case of an emergency. You can get their dental records from the family dentist during their appointment.<\/p>\n
Dental checkups and cleaning are often the best opportunity to find and remove plaque that\u2019s built up on your child\u2019s teeth. Plaque is a soft, sticky film that contains bacteria as well as leftover food particles; if it\u2019s left in place for too long, the tooth\u2019s enamel could start to decay. Eventually, your child could suffer from a serious toothache, or they could even start losing their teeth altogether!<\/p>\n
You can get rid of a lot of plaque at home by brushing and flossing, but there are many hard-to-reach surfaces in the mouth that can easily be missed without realizing it. Your child\u2019s dentist and hygienist will have the tools and training needed to thoroughly examine the mouth and find signs of oral health problems quickly when they\u2019re still easily treatable.<\/p>\n
If your child hasn\u2019t seen a dentist in the last six months, it\u2019s especially important to make an appointment at the first opportunity. Make sure your little one\u2019s smile is ready for the school year!<\/p>\n