When it comes to your family’s health and dental needs, nothing is more important than providing the highest quality of appropriate care. Younger patients, in particular, require good dental treatment in order to prevent future problems. To this end, we offer a range of preventative and general dentistry services for our teenage and adolescent patients. Here are some of the more popular procedures we offer for teens in the Salt Lake City area.

Preventative Dentistry and Hygiene

With a solid hygienic routine, your child can be on the path to a strong, successful smile. Professional cleanings will help remove plaque and tartar build-up, while encouraging patients to maintain positive brushing and flossing habits. Adolescents with braces can especially benefit from a dental visit, as food is more likely to get trapped between teeth, resulting in decay. At a regular cleaning, patients can make use of any of the following services:

• Scaling and polishing: This is the typical, minimally invasive technique during a hygienic cleaning. First, plaque and tartar are gently removed from teeth and gums. The surfaces of teeth are then polished to reduce the chances of future bacteria adhering to them.
• Sealant: By applying a thin layer of resin over the top surfaces of molars, bacteria and subsequent decay are deterred. This is usually applied on younger patients’ first dental visit, or when permanent teeth erupt. However, many patients may find their second molars coming in during adolescence.
• Hygienic education: A dental visit is an excellent way to check on patients’ at-home dental habits, while keeping them informed about proper hygiene. Even something as simple as a brushing and flossing routine can be evaluated by a dentist or hygienist. Patients with certain hygienic obstacles, such as braces, can further benefit from a recommended mouthwash or diet.
• X-Rays: Even patients with relatively young teeth are susceptible to cavities. With X-ray exams at intermittent visits, teens can rest assured that their teeth are decay free. If cavities are spotted, appropriate restorative treatment can be given early on.

Tooth-colored Fillings

If a teenage patient discovers that he or she must have a cavity filled, it’s not uncommon for certain anxieties to arise. Our patients can rest assured that their first dental filling procedure will be virtually painless, and can produce a visually attractive filling that blends in naturally with one’s smile. By using composite resin, fillings can be matched in color to the surrounding tooth structure and molded to replicate its shape. Additionally, composite fillings form a strong bond with tissue, reinforcing a tooth and leaving no gaps for future decay to form. 

Mouth Guards

As students take part in more physical activities and join sports teams, concern over injury is common. Contact sports can result in anything from bruises to broken bones or teeth. For the latter, we offer customized mouth guards to protect a teen’s permanent teeth from damage. Although store-bought mouth guards can be used, they cannot provide the same comfort, fit, and protection of a professionally crafted mouth guard.

Oral appliances can also be used to correct certain causes of TMJ disorder, snoring, and sleep apnea for patients of any age. If you are considering the use of a mouth guard for any reason, speak with your cosmetic dentist about this simple but effective solution. 

Come In for an Appointment

The earlier our patients receive ongoing dental care, the more likely it is for them to have healthy teeth with few problems. Contact our office to set up an appointment with Dr. Wright for yourself or a loved one, and see how easy it is to receive first-rate dentistry in a comfortable environment.