Preventing Cavities: 4 Crucial Pediatric Dental Treatments

If you have kids, you probably worry about their dental health just as much as their overall well-being. Knowing how preventive dental care works—and how your insurance covers it—can make a big difference in helping your child keep healthy teeth and gums for life. Brushing twice a day, flossing regularly, and visiting the dentist for routine cleanings are essential habits, but there are also in-office preventive procedures that can help protect your child’s smile even more.

Below are four common preventive pediatric dental treatments every parent should know about.

1. Sealants

Brushing and flossing help remove plaque from the smooth surfaces of teeth, but it’s easy to miss the deep grooves on the molars and back teeth. These hard-to-clean areas are more prone to cavities, especially in children. Dental sealants provide an extra layer of protection.

Sealants are thin, plastic-like coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to prevent plaque and bacteria from settling in. The process is fast, completely painless, and doesn’t require anesthesia. Your child’s dentist simply paints the sealant onto the tooth, where it hardens and forms a protective barrier.

Sealants are most effective when applied soon after the permanent molars erupt—typically around age six for the first molars and age twelve for the second. They can also be used on premolars if needed. However, not every child needs them, so it’s best to ask your pediatric dentist whether sealants are right for your child.

2. Fluoride Treatments

Fluoride helps strengthen enamel and makes teeth more resistant to decay. It fights the acids produced by bacteria and sugars, keeping cavities at bay. Children can get fluoride from sources like tap water, toothpaste, and some mouth rinses, but professional fluoride treatments at the dentist’s office offer stronger protection.

These treatments usually come in the form of a gel, foam, or varnish that is applied to the teeth for just a few minutes. The concentration of fluoride used by the dentist is higher than what you’ll find in store-bought products, which helps give your child’s teeth extra defense against decay.

Not every child needs professional fluoride treatments. If your child is at higher risk for cavities, the dentist might recommend adding them to their preventive care plan. Your pediatric dentist can also suggest the right fluoride products to use at home based on your child’s specific needs.

3. X-rays

Dental X-rays allow your dentist to see what’s happening beneath the surface of your child’s teeth and gums. They can detect cavities between teeth, monitor developing adult teeth, and identify other issues that may not be visible during a regular checkup.

For children, X-rays are safe when used appropriately. Pediatric dentists take precautions to minimize exposure, such as using protective aprons and digital imaging that uses very low radiation.

The American Dental Association (ADA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommend different X-ray schedules depending on a child’s cavity risk. For children at higher risk, X-rays may be taken every six to twelve months. For those at lower risk, once every twelve to twenty-four months may be enough. Regular X-rays, combined with good oral hygiene and preventive care, help dentists keep your child’s teeth healthy and catch problems early.

4. Space Maintainers

When a baby tooth falls out too early—whether from tooth decay or an accident—it can cause spacing problems for the permanent tooth that’s still developing. If the space isn’t maintained, nearby teeth may shift into that gap, blocking the permanent tooth from growing in correctly.

A space maintainer is a small device placed by the dentist to hold that empty space open until the permanent tooth is ready to come in. It’s custom-made for your child’s mouth and is comfortable to wear. Once the adult tooth starts to emerge, the dentist removes the maintainer.

This simple preventive treatment can help avoid future orthodontic issues, like crowding or misalignment, which might otherwise require braces or other corrective procedures later on.