Oral Health Exams in San Tan Valley, AZ

We truly believe that regular dental examinations are important in order for your child to have good dental health and a smile of which he or she can be proud. We start by doing a professional cleaning, removing all of the bad tartar and other buildup on your child's teeth. We then do an examination, looking to catch and fix any problems before they become bigger ones. We examine each tooth, looking for any signs of decay, damage, or any other problems, such as signs of infection. We want to correct any problems your child may have before they get any worse.

• Professional cleaning to remove buildup
• Each tooth checked for decay, damage and infection
• Monitoring of how adult teeth are coming through
• Gentle, unhurried approach for nervous children
• Guidance for parents on care at home

Children's teeth develop decay faster than adult teeth, because the enamel is thinner. A cavity that would take a long time to become serious in an adult tooth can reach the nerve in a child's tooth considerably sooner, so regular checks genuinely matter. Routine visits also let us watch development — whether adult teeth are coming through in the right positions, whether there is enough room for them, and whether habits like thumb-sucking are affecting the bite. Spotting those early often means simpler intervention later. The part parents underestimate is the psychological one. A child whose early dental visits were calm and uneventful grows into an adult who books checkups without dread. Given how many adults avoid the dentist because of a childhood experience, those first few appointments are worth getting right.

Visits are kept unhurried. For a first appointment, some of it is simply letting your child get comfortable — sitting in the chair, seeing the instruments, understanding that nothing is going to happen without being explained first. The hygienist cleans the teeth, removing tartar and buildup, and polishes them. Fluoride may be applied afterward. Dr. Gifford then examines each tooth for decay, damage or signs of infection, and checks how the bite and the incoming adult teeth are developing. You will hear plainly what was found and what, if anything, needs doing. If your child is anxious, tell us when you book — that changes how we pace the appointment, and sedation options including nitrous oxide are available where appropriate.