Cavity
Our team focuses on prevention and education to keep cavities away.
See ya, cavities
Preventing problems is always better than treating them. That’s why our Missouri City pediatric dental practice offers a full range of solutions for cavity prevention. When your child visits us for an exam, we’ll work with you to create a personalized plan tailored to their oral health, needs and lifestyle.
Cavity Prevention Services
Dental Sealants
Dental sealants are a super effective, affordable way to prevent cavities in kids’ back teeth. Dr. Parker paints the sealant solution onto the chewing surfaces of your child’s molars and premolars. The sealants prevent bacteria, acids and plaque from getting into the pits and grooves of these teeth and causing cavities. To maximize the benefits, we recommend sealing the six-year and 12-year molars as soon as they erupt.
Diet Counseling
Whenever kids (or adults!) eat or drink, the bacteria in the mouth snack on sugars and starches from the food or beverage. As they do, they release acids that, over time, erode the enamel, potentially leading to tooth decay. As a pediatric dentist and former registered dietitian, Dr. Parker can offer guidance on creating a smile-friendly diet that promotes outstanding oral health and stops cavities from forming.
Oral Hygiene Instructions
We take the time to fully understand your child’s needs and provide personalized recommendations. Our kids’ dentist will teach you and your child everything you need to know about caring for their growing smile and help you develop a stellar homecare routine. We make things fun and interactive to encourage positive dental habits at a young age, which is one of the keys to remaining cavity-free.
Professional Fluoride Application
Topical fluoride treatments are another safe, proven solution for cavity prevention. We can paint a fluoride varnish onto your child’s teeth at their cleaning appointment. The fluoride strengthens their enamel and makes it more resistant to cavity-causing acids from plaque bacteria. Fluoride treatment also has the ability to give weakened tooth surfaces a boost, stopping very early tooth decay.
½
More than half of kids ages 6 to 8 have had a cavity in at least one of their baby teeth.
57%
57% of teenagers between ages 12 and 19 have had a cavity in their permanent teeth.
33%
Fluoride varnish has been shown to prevent about 33% of cavities in baby teeth.
