Children's Dentist in San Marcos, TX

Lookin for a Children's Dentist in San Marcos? Help your child maintain a beautiful and healthy smile with a children's dentist in San Marcos, TX. At AquaSprings Dental, our dentists are skilled in treating children and their dental needs.

When Should My Child Visit the Dentist?

Children should first visit the dentist when their first tooth erupts. If a tooth has not erupted by age one, call AquaSprings Dental for their first dental appointment. Although it may seem young to some parents to go to the dentist, it is essential to start visiting the dentist at this age. One reason is so our dentists can examine their gum and teeth health to observe for abnormalities. Second, going to the dentist young can help your child become comfortable with the dentist and their special tools.

Children's Dentistry Services

At AquaSprings Dental, we offer several children's dentistry services to help your child maintain good oral health. First, we recommend that your child visits AquaSprings Dental every six months for a dental cleaning and exam. Additionally, your child can receive dental sealants and tooth remineralization treatment to maintain their oral health.

Dental Cleanings and Exams

Dental cleaning and exams are preventative measures to help your child maintain good oral health. Your dentist and a hygienist will remove any plaque or debris from your child's teeth and gums during the dental cleaning. If you don't remove them, the plaque can turn into tartar which is hard to remove and can lead to dental decay. If your child develops dental decay, it will need to be removed and replaced with a dental filling. Oftentimes this may require additional costs if sedation is needed. During a dental exam, one of our dentists will examine the health of your child's teeth. They will look for abnormalities such as dental decay. If needed, they will recommend treatment options to help your child maintain a healthy smile.

Dental Sealants

Your child's molars, the furthest back teeth, begin to erupt between one and three years old. The first molars erupt between 12 and 16 months, while the second molars erupt between your child's second and third birthday. Dental sealants are placed on back molars because they have numerous grooves and are hard to brush. Bacteria and debris can get stuck between the grooves, leading to dental decay. To prevent this, a sealant is placed on the back molar's chewing surface. Then, when bacteria and debris reach the surface, they slide off.

Fluoride (Tooth Remineralization) Treatment

At AquaSprings Dental, we recommend that all of our patients use dental products that contain fluoride – especially since it is not currently found in San Marco’s city water. Fluoride is a substance that, when chemically touched to the teeth, strengthens the outer layer of the tooth, the enamel. A more robust outer layer of the tooth prevents dental decay. Fluoride treatment is a quick and painless procedure that will improve your child's oral health.

Avoid Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Whether formula-based or breastfed, milk has many benefits; however, if the gums and teeth are not cleaned properly, the sugars in milk can cause gum and tooth damage. This is especially true when children begin eating solid foods. One common problem is baby bottle tooth decay. Baby bottle tooth decay happens when your child goes to bed with a bottle of milk. The sugars from the milk stay on their gums and teeth all night, increasing the risk for tooth decay. Another way to decrease the risk of tooth decay in babies is to wean them from night time breastfeeding or bottle feeding at one year old. This reduces the sugar on their teeth and gums at night. Additionally, bottle feeding requires excessive sucking, which can affect the growth of hard palate and spacing of teeth. Lastly, after your child drinks milk, wipe their gums and teeth gently with a washcloth.At AquaSprings Dental, we are here to help improve your child's oral health. We offer several services to improve their oral health. For more information about children's dentistry in San Marcos, TX, or to schedule an appointment, call our office.