At Smilecraft Dental Care we believe that a healthy, glowing smile in both adults and children is an essential part of life.

We understand the importance of quality dental care and how it can positively affect your overall health and wellbeing. This is why we want to ensure that we offer treatments in a safe, welcoming environment and encourage all of our patients to have routine checks-ups for healthy teeth and gums.

Our private dental practice is conveniently situated in the heart of Stevenage Old Town. We provide a full range of dental treatments that patients can trust ranging from general dentistry to cosmetic dentistry. We also pride ourselves on offering preventative dentistry for kids Stevenage.

We want your children to take care of their oral health

We believe in preventative dentistry for kids Stevenage and encourage parents to bring their children to our practice from an early age to learn about oral health care. One of the incredible benefits of having a regular check-up from a young age is that you are able to minimise the risk of untreated dental decay. This could have a negative impact on your child’s growing dentition later on in life and preventative dentistry for kids Stevenage is an ideal solution to combat this problem.

We also offer younger patients fluoride applications as they are completely safe and highly effective. These applications help to safeguard your growing child’s teeth from developing any potential decay. The process is simple and has no risk of pain so your child can have peace of mind knowing the treatment will offer no discomfort. The fluoride is simply painted onto the surface of your child’s teeth, and this will help to mineralise the teeth and add a layer of protection.

Fissure sealants which are tooth coloured in appearance can be applied to biting surfaces of children’s teeth and these also go a long way in helping to prevent decay.

Enjoy confidence knowing that your children’s teeth are well looked after and that they can grow up being conscious of their oral health and what they can do to maintain their teeth and gums.

At our practice we believe that for both adults and children, preventative dentistry is always better than a cure and encourage you to book an appointment with us.

What is involved in dental hygiene treatments?

If you’re considering having a dental hygiene treatment, we would be happy to set up an appointment with our friendly hygienist. This treatment is ideal for those looking to remove any stubborn plaque from their teeth that is often a result of many years of build-up. We encourage our patients to have their teeth professionally cleaned as we have special equipment in place to offer optimum results.

What takes place during a routine visit at our dental practice?

We try to encourage all our patients to have regular checks-up and to not have any fear about visiting the dentist. Our dental practitioner is happy to assist you with any queries or anxieties you may have and will gently guide you through the check-up. During a routine appointment our dentist will simply monitor your teeth and gums and assess the state of your oral health. During this time, they can also address any possible concerns you may have or answer queries about possible treatment plans for other procedures we offer at our practice.

Many patients are under the misconception that it is only adults that need to look after their teeth. Children have only a temporary need for their baby teeth and these will eventually fall out once they have served their purpose. But it should be noted that there are significantly weighty reasons to look after children’s oral health that will carry a long-lasting impact well into their adult years. Preventive-focused dental measures and treatments is the branch of dentistry dedicated to preserving teeth and gums and safeguarding oral function.

Our approachable and competent dentist at Smilecraft dental clinic is well-experienced in providing quality preventative dentistry for kids Stevenage. We are of the opinion that it is never too early to bring in a child for an oral health assessment which is why we welcome children of all ages including babies who have sprouted their first tooth. Here’s why we encourage parents to focus on preventative dentistry for kids Stevenage.

The need for children to visit the dentist

Preventative dentistry for kids Stevenage is a key part in maintaining children’s oral health and avoiding serious issues from developing that will lead to dental pain, tooth discomfort, tooth decay and traumatising treatments such as tooth extractions.

The advantages of preventive dental care for children does not only benefit children in their younger years as the appreciation they have for their teeth and the positive habits they practice towards  maintaining oral health are likely to stay with them for life.

There are many parts to preventive dental care and includes check-up appointments scheduled at dentist-recommended intervals, a comprehensive oral assessment, treatments and procedures carried out by an experienced dental practitioner such as in-clinic cleanings, fluoride treatments and fillings as well as the oral hygiene practice at home – daily brushing and flossing and the use of specially-formulated kid-friendly mouthwash.

Dental issues that are identified in a child’s early years allows a dental practitioner to put in place suitable measures like orthodontic treatments to prevent major problems (teeth spacing issues or jaw problems) from developing at a later stage.

As part of our preventive care services specifically focusing on children, we provide:

• Education for children on the importance of looking after teeth.
• Recommend ways to parents on appropriate products to use and tricks to employ when supervising children’s oral hygiene routine.
• Fluoride and sealant treatments.
• Use of x-rays to track development of teeth and jawbone.

Parents are welcome to address any concerns about their child’s teeth or general oral health with our dentist. We can advise on the best guidelines and techniques to use (games to play, songs to sing and products to use) to make cleaning teeth fun. It is important that parents do not leave their children to clean their teeth on their own. For the oral hygiene routine to be effective, this practice must be supervised at all times to ensure the child is doing it correctly.

To help your child avoid the pain and trauma of cavities and dental decay, we recommend visiting us at Smilecraft dental clinic for exceptional preventive dental care.

Preventative dentistry is a form of dentistry that aims to restore the function and health of the teeth within the mouth. Preventative dentistry strives to keep the teeth, and gums healthy, therefore preventing the onset of oral diseases and infections (such as gum disease). Some examples of common dental treatments include the avoidance of enamel erosion, and the prevention of cavities. Aside from treatments, preventative dentistry also focuses on the education and maintenance of oral hygiene, this may involve correct brushing and flossing, to ensure teeth are healthy, strong, and white.

Why choose our dental clinic to undergo preventative dentistry for kids in Stevenage?

Choosing a dental clinic to receive your own dental treatment can be tough, and it can be even harder when choosing a dentist for your children. For children under the age of eighteen, dental care is free, which can be a huge advantage for many patients within the United Kingdom. We believe our dental clinic is the right choice for individuals of all ages, this can be backed up by our many positive patient testimonials located on our website. Aside from our reviews, we strive to create a positive and calming environment for children, ensuring our patients are always cared for by our dental team.

Why is preventative dentistry for kids in Stevenage so important?

We believe that educating children at a young age in the importance of dental hygiene can make a huge difference to their oral health in adulthood. Our dental team strongly believes that education on oral health may be just as important as other forms of dentistry, such as restorative, and cosmetic dentistry. It is proven within the field of dentistry that regular dental appointments from a young age can drastically minimise the chances of a child developing a dental fear at a later stage in life.

The preventative dentistry for kids in Stevenage we offer

As dental health care professionals we believe that children should visit our clinic twice a year, in order to prevent the build-up of plaque and tartar on the surface of the teeth. One example of the preventative dentistry we offer for children within Stevenage is a fluoride application.

What is a fluoride application?

Although many patients may have heard of ‘fluoride’ they may not be fully aware of how it affects the teeth. Fluoride is a mineralising agent, and is used commonly within dentistry, it can be found in many toothpastes (which we suggest our patients use) available worldwide. At our practice fluoride is painted on children’s teeth to help protect them from dental decay. In terms of the way it works, fissure sealants are tooth coloured and adhered to ‘biting surfaces’ of the teeth to help reduce decay of the child’s teeth.

How to book your first appointment

Many parents who may be looking at our dental clinic for their child’s dental treatment, may be unsure of how to book their child in for their first appointment. All of our patients can request an appointment via our website, which may save time for our busier patients.

When you think about what you want to put in place for your children, the various elements add up to making sure that they are happy and healthy. A good job, good health, somewhere nice to live, good friends and a happy family of their own. This is what most parents wish for their children to have a good life.

Teeth play a very important part in the good health aspect of a life. Without good teeth, it’s not possible to eat properly, to bite into and chew up the nutritious foods we need to sustain our bodies. Also, good teeth play a vital role in having a good smile. And a good smile is one of the most important tools we have in making that first contact with people, be they a prospective partner, a new social group or someone who can decide whether or not we get a good new job or a promotion.

Without those connections, it may not be possible to get the money to pay for the new house and so on.

So, having a good set of teeth is more important than it is sometimes given credit for.

What can you do to make sure that your children have good teeth while they are growing up at home, and continue to look after them once they have flown the nest?

Well, here at Smilecraft Dental Care, we believe that the first step is learning a good oral health routine that your child will keep to even after they have left home and there is no one to ask them, ‘Have you brushed your teeth?’.

We also believe in looking after baby teeth as well as possible, because decay can move from baby teeth through to the adult teeth behind them.

To that end, we offer preventive dentistry for kids. We can paint their back teeth with fissure sealants that form a protective barrier against decay causing acids and bacteria. We can also mineralise the teeth with fluoride treatments.

These are timely treatments for youngsters who have not yet mastered all the skills of toothbrushing and whose tooth enamel has not yet hardened.

Help your child beat decay. Book them in for preventive treatments today.

The shark has got it made when it comes to teeth. No shark ever has to worry about decay or gaps because they have an endless supply of teeth waiting to replace any that get broken or fall out. Sharks’ teeth don’t have any roots. In fact, some species of shark get through about 50,000 teeth in their lifetime.

Humans are different from sharks. Nature supplies us with one set of adult teeth, with roots. When they’re gone, they’re gone. That’s why it’s very important that we teach our kids to take really good care of them.

And we don’t appear to be doing a very good job. Tooth decay among the children of the UK is still very high, no doubt because of the amount of sugar in their diets. A survey in September 2014 found that 12% of three-year-olds had cavities. Kids get a particular kind of decay that shows up on the front teeth and then spreads rapidly. It is caused by drinking sugary drinks from a spouted cup when children are being weaned. Scary stuff, and totally avoidable if you bring your child to the dentist for regular check-ups.

At Smilecraft, we are hot on preventive dentistry for kids in Stevenage. We check your children’s teeth very carefully for decay from the time they first appear. This is when we recommend you start bringing your child in for check-ups. We also recommend that you bring them in before that. Allowing them to tag along to your own appointments or those of older siblings, gets them used to the dental clinic. They will be more relaxed when it’s their turn for a check-up, maybe even eager to finally get a chance to copy you for real.

Because children’s teeth are so susceptible to decay, we offer two treatments that provide extra protection. One is to paint fluoride onto the teeth to mineralise the enamel against decay. We can also paint sealant on to the back molars. This covers the fissures in the chewing surfaces, where decay tends to occur. Seeing young patients also allows us to keep an eye out for issues with the bite and spot teeth that are going to come through out of alignment.

Preventive dental care for your children is hugely important.Dentists will encourage parents to bring their children for regular check-ups from an early age.

Check-ups from a young age will help to ensure that children won’t suffer from untreated dental decay which can have serious effects on the health of their teeth. There are numerous preventive treatments that children of any age will benefit from.

Keeping children going for regular dental appointments can encourage them to keep up with their oral hygiene routine, benefitting them for the rest of their lives. It is important to choose the correct dentist for your children’s dental needs, such as Smilecraft in Stevenage.

How to avoid tooth decay

Avoiding giving children unnecessary sugar is a good way to establish healthy eating patterns to protect a child’s teeth for life. Milk and water are the only drinks that are recommend be put into a baby’s bottle.

Ideally babies should be introduced to a feeding cup as soon as possible. Fruit juice given to children, should be diluted and given in a cup. It is recommended to restrict juices to mealtimes only. If the child tends to snack between meals it is best to avoid sweets and biscuits as much as possible.

Cleaning children’s teeth

Plaque will start to form on children’s teeth and gums as soon as the first tooth appears. So, it is very important to begin a regular tooth-brushing routine as soon as possible.

It is important to use a toothbrush that is appropriate for the child’s age and stage of tooth development. A small-headed soft toothbrush should be used as soon as the first tooth arrives. Dentists, such as Smilecraft in Stevenage recommend character toothbrushes, as they are an excellent way to make brushing fun for children.

Is fluoride important for my child’s teeth?

Fluoride is in most toothpastes but special children’s toothpastes are better for babies and infants because the amount of fluoride is controlled. It is important to have just the right amount, not too much or too little.

To avoid excess fluoride from toothpastes, children under six years should be supervised when tooth-brushing and only use a small amount of toothpaste. If you have any queries regarding fluoride it is always best to ask a dentist, such as Smilecraft in Stevenage.