In the coming weeks, you’ll be gathering notebooks, pens, pencils, art supplies, and more school supplies. You may be getting new clothes for the new academic year.

There’s one more thing you should include on your back-to-school list — a professional dental cleaning and exam at McNulty & Dancausse General Dentistry.

According to the American Dental Association, students miss an estimated 51 million hours of instruction as a result of oral health problems every year. Many of those missed hours could be avoided with preventive care and treatment.

With that in mind, we hope to see you soon at our Charlotte, NC family dentistry. Call 704-766-8662 today.

Lay The Foundation For Success

Health exams and immunizations are necessary for many schools. Dental checkups aren’t mandatory, but they are recommended by the ADA and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

During a dental checkup at our office, you can count on a couple of things.

First and foremost, we will clean your family’s teeth thoroughly. Plaque and tartar buildup can lead to tooth decay and to gum irritation and infections. After this buildup is removed, your children are less likely to have cavities or gum disease.

Statistically, more than 40 percent of kids will have a cavity by age 11. With this in mind, we will be looking for any signs or symptoms of decay during your family’s visits. In addition to visual inspections, we’ll also use digital X-rays to monitor changes in your children’s mouths.

If we notice a problem, we recommend taking care of it as soon a possible. After all, getting a filling today is preferable to needing a root canal tomorrow.

In fact, a pair of recent studies found some important information you may want to know. In one, researchers surveyed children between the ages of 6 and 12 years. Around 14 percent reported that they had a toothache during the prior six months.

That’s significant because of the second study. In that, researchers found that children with oral health issues were more likely to have lower grades than their peers.

Do Some Extra Credit

In school, extra credit can help kids get ahead on their work. In dental care, extra credit can greatly reduce the likelihood of cavities. Two “extras” you should ask about are fluoride treatments and dental sealants.

Tooth decay develops as a result of demineralization. As more mineral is removed from the enamel of teeth, decay can become a cavity. Fluoride is a mineral. When applied to your teeth, you can remineralize teeth.

Dental sealants help in a different way. You can think of them as armor for your kids’ smile. Sealants are a protective coating that acts as a physical barrier between teeth and harmful bacteria.

Keep Those Smiles In Shape

Whether you want to prevent issues or treat them before they turn into bigger problems. Visit our Charlotte family dentistry before classes begin. Call 704-766-8662 or contact us online to request an appointment for your loved ones at McNulty & Dancausse General Dentistry.