I check every tooth for decay, look at the gums, and watch how the jaws and bite are developing as your child grows. I also look at the soft tissues — tongue, cheeks, palate — which parents rarely think about but which tell me a lot. If something’s changing in a way I want to keep an eye on, I’ll tell you at the visit rather than waiting until it becomes a problem.
Everyday care
Check-ups and cleanings
The six-month visit that keeps most children out of the chair for anything else. Exams, cleanings, digital x-rays, fluoride and sealants, for children from birth to 18 in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake.
Why every six months
Catching things while they’re still small
Children’s teeth change quickly, and so does decay. A cavity that’s a shadow on an x-ray in March can be a nerve problem by Christmas. Visits every six months mean I see those changes early, when the fix is small and your child barely notices it.
There’s a second thing happening at every check-up, and it matters just as much. Your child is practicing. They learn the chair, the light, the counting, the polish — all of it with nothing uncomfortable attached. That’s what makes them a child who can cope calmly on the day something does need to be done.
What’s included
A check-up visit
Tap anything to read what it involves, in plain language.
-
-
We remove the soft plaque and any hardened deposits a toothbrush has missed, then polish the teeth smooth so plaque has less to cling to. For most children this feels like a buzzy electric toothbrush and takes a few minutes. If your child is nervous about the sound or the sensation, tell us when you call — there’s more than one way to do it, and I’ll use the one that suits them.
-
Some decay simply can’t be seen by eye — particularly between teeth that touch. Digital x-rays let me find it early, and they also show me teeth still forming under the gum, which is how I spot a missing or crowded adult tooth years before it would otherwise appear. The dose is very low, and I take them only when there’s a reason. I’ll always tell you what I’m looking for first.
-
A fluoride coating painted straight onto the teeth with a small brush. It takes under a minute, there’s no tray and nothing to hold in the mouth, and it works by hardening the enamel so it resists the acid that causes decay. It can even re-harden a spot that has started to soften but hasn’t yet become a cavity. I’ll tell you when your child can eat and drink afterward.
-
The chewing surface of a back tooth isn’t flat — it’s a landscape of deep narrow grooves, and some are narrower than a toothbrush bristle. A sealant is a thin protective coating bonded into those grooves so food and bacteria can’t settle there. It’s quick, there’s no drilling and no numbing, and it’s most worth doing on the permanent molars soon after they arrive. I check them at each visit and replace them if they wear.
-
Sucking is normal and comforting, and in the early years it rarely does lasting harm. What matters is how long it continues: once the permanent teeth start coming in, sustained sucking can change the way the front teeth and jaws meet. I’ll tell you honestly whether your child’s habit is something to act on yet, and if it is, we’ll work on it together with approaches that don’t involve shaming a child out of something they find comforting.
If I find a cavity at a check-up, I’ll show you what I’ve found and explain the options before anything is scheduled. See how cavities are treated.
Between visits
What actually moves the needle at home
Two minutes of brushing, twice a day, with a fluoride toothpaste — and an adult doing it or checking it until around age eight. Small hands can’t yet reach the back teeth reliably, however willing they are.
Flossing matters wherever two teeth touch, because that’s exactly where a brush can’t go and where I most often find decay. And the single biggest factor is frequency rather than quantity: a juice cup sipped over a whole morning does far more damage than the same juice drunk at once.
Common questions
Questions parents ask
How often should my child have a check-up?
Every six months for most children. Some children need to be seen more often — for example if they’re prone to decay, wear braces, or have a medical condition that affects their teeth — and I’ll tell you if that applies.
Are dental x-rays safe for children?
Digital x-rays use a very low dose of radiation, and I only take them when there’s a reason to. I’ll explain why before any are taken.
What is fluoride varnish?
A fluoride coating painted onto the teeth in under a minute. It hardens the enamel and helps prevent decay. Your child can eat and drink soon afterward, and I’ll tell you exactly when.
What are sealants and does my child need them?
A sealant is a thin protective coating bonded into the deep grooves of the back teeth, where toothbrush bristles can’t reach. They’re most useful on permanent molars soon after they come in. No drilling and no numbing are involved.
My child still sucks their thumb. Is that a problem?
Usually not in the early years. It matters more once the permanent teeth start arriving, because sustained sucking can change how the teeth and jaws meet. I’ll tell you honestly whether it’s something to act on yet, and help you with it if it is.
Does a cleaning hurt?
It shouldn’t. For most children a cleaning is polishing, which feels like a buzzy electric toothbrush. If your child is nervous, tell us when you call and I’ll take it at their pace.
Book a check-up
Call to book a check-up and cleaning
Office hours are 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM. When you call, tell the team about your child’s needs so I can plan the visit around them.