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| Kids Health - Going to the Dentist |
It's true. Your teeth are an important part of your smile, and they also help you chew foods like crunchy apples or yummy pizza.
Brushing
and flossing are important, but you also need to visit your dentist
regularly to keep your teeth strong and healthy. Let's learn more about
what happens at the dentist's office.
What Does the Dentist Do ?
The
dentist is a doctor who is specially trained to care for teeth. When
you visit for a checkup, your dentist will look at your teeth and gums
to check for any problems. The dentist also wants to make sure your
teeth are developing properly as you grow.
It's
important to visit your dentist every 6 months to make sure you're
taking good care of your teeth and that your teeth and gums are healthy.
What Happens at the Dentist's Office ?
After
your name is called in the waiting room, you'll go into an exam room
and sit down in a big, comfortable chair that is like a huge recliner.
The chair will have a place to rest your head and lots of room for you
to stretch out your legs. Next to the chair may be a little sink with a
cup that you can use to rinse out your mouth as your teeth are being
cleaned.
During the exam, your teeth will be cleaned, flossed, and checked for cavities.
Cleaning and Flossing
One of the first people you'll meet at the dentist's office is the dental hygienist (say: hi-JEH-nist). A dental hygienist is a person who knows all about keeping teeth and gums clean and healthy.
The
dental hygienist will look inside your mouth to make sure your teeth
are growing properly and your gums are healthy. A bright, overhead light
will shine down into your mouth like a giant flashlight so the dental
hygienist can get a good look inside your mouth.
The
dental hygienist will clean and polish your teeth, using tiny dental
tools like a tooth scraper, mirror, and special toothbrush. The tooth
scraper removes plaque (say: plak) from your teeth. Plaque is a thin,
sticky layer that coats your teeth and contains bacteria (say: bak-TEER-ee-uh) that grow on your teeth over time. Plaque that isn't removed from your teeth can cause decay, or a cavity (say: KAH-vuh-tee).
Next
comes brushing and flossing. The dental hygienist will brush your teeth
with a special toothbrush and toothpaste. The toothbrush has a small,
round tip that moves around and around to clean your teeth. The
toothpaste might taste like your own toothpaste at home, but it will
feel a little grittier — almost like sand.
Then the dental hygienist will floss your teeth and show you the proper way to brush and floss your teeth at home. Flossing involves
using a piece of waxy string called dental floss to get in between your
teeth and remove food particles that your brush can't reach.
Checking for Cavities
During
your visit, the dental hygienist will take X-rays, or pictures, of your
teeth. X-rays are like superhuman vision. They can show cavities hiding
between your teeth and problems beneath your gums. A cavity is a
decayed, or rotted, part of a tooth.
It
does not hurt to get an X-ray and it takes only a few seconds. The
dental hygienist will place a thick blanket over your chest (to protect
your body from the high-energy waves) and put a piece of plastic (that
holds the X-ray film) into your mouth. As you gently bite down on the
plastic, you'll have to be very still for a few seconds while the dental
hygienist snaps the picture.
Fluoride Treatments
Next
it's time for your fluoride (say: FLOOR-ide) treatment. Fluoride is a
natural mineral that makes your teeth strong and helps prevent cavities.
At the dentist's office, a fluoride gel or foam will be applied to your
teeth. Most dental offices offer fluoride treatments with flavoring,
like bubble gum or grape.
The
fluoride treatment will take about 1 to 4 minutes. The dental hygienist
will probably tell you not to eat or drink anything (including water)
for 30 minutes after the fluoride treatment.
Meeting the Dentist
The
dentist will look at all of your teeth and check your gums to make sure
they're strong and healthy. The dentist will also check the way your
top and bottom teeth work together. This is called your bite. If there
might be a problem with your bite, you may be referred to an orthodontist (say:
or-tho-DON-tist). This is a doctor who specializes in correcting the
shape or positions of all your teeth through orthodontia, or braces.
The
dentist will study your X-rays (looking for cavities or other problems)
and ask if you have any questions about your teeth. Your dentist may
also prescribe fluoride drops or tablets for you to take every day at
home.
Presents From the Dentist!
When
your checkup is over, the dentist usually will have a present for you!
The gift is often a free toothbrush or dental floss to use at home or
some sugar-free gum.
What Happens If I Have a Cavity ?
If
you have a cavity, you'll probably have to come back to the dentist's
office for another visit. At that time, the dentist will remove the
decayed part from your tooth with special dental tools. Then the decayed
area will be filled with materials that will keep your tooth strong and
healthy, like tooth-colored or silver fillings.
As soon as you sit down in the dental chair, the dentist will give you a tiny shot of an anesthetic (say: ah-nus-THEH-tik), a medicine that numbs the area around the tooth.
Your
mouth may be numb for a little while after you leave the dentist's
office, but the anesthetic will soon wear off and you'll be left with a
beautiful smile!
Dental Words
Some words used at the dentist's office might be new to you. Here are a few and what they mean:
- bacteria — tiny organisms that live on your teeth and are found in plaque
- cavity — the decayed, or rotten, part of a tooth
- dental hygienist — a person with special training about the proper way to keep teeth and gums clean and healthy
- dental X-rays — pictures of your teeth and gums that will show a dentist whether there are any cavities
- flossing — involves using a piece of waxy string called dental floss to get in between your teeth and remove food particles that your toothbrush can't reach
- fluoride treatment — a gel or foam applied to teeth that makes them strong and helps prevent cavities
- orthodontist — a doctor who specializes in correcting the shape or positions of your teeth
- plaque — a thin, sticky layer containing bacteria that grow on your teeth
Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Article Source : http://kidshealth.org/
Related Video :
Going to the dentist - An Educational Video
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