Sometimes a children’s dentist in Mankato MN sees young patients for the first time because this is their initial dental appointment. Dentists recommend that this appointment take place within the first year of age, but many parents delay for one reason or another. Some parents of babies and toddlers deal with significant financial difficulty. They may not be able to afford dental care for these little ones until the child is nearing kindergarten age.
Resolving Problems With Tooth Decay
This doesn’t mean that the youngsters will have cavities, although tooth decay is relatively common in little kids from any family income level. The parents may have been able to keep up with proper oral hygiene through regular brushing of the child’s teeth as recommended. If a child does have some tooth decay at this point, a children’s dentist in Mankato MN will drill away the diseased material and fill these areas. Dental sealants can be applied to the back teeth to prevent further problems.
Prevention and elimination of tooth decay are essential, so children do not experience discomfort and pain in their teeth. That discomfort can stop them from eating a proper diet and from being able to concentrate during learning activities. They may not feel like running around and being active. Also, tooth decay may spread to adjacent teeth.
Compassionate and Understanding Attention
These families appreciate compassionate and understanding attention at a clinic such as Mankato Family Dentistry. The parents don’t want to feel judged harshly for delaying dental care for the children, and the kids don’t want to feel embarrassed. They are already nervous enough, considering they are completely unfamiliar with having their teeth professionally cleaned and examined.
Help for Low-Income Residents
There are options for reduced-fee dental care for low-income families as well as credit programs to be used for health care. For example, Medicaid pays for a certain level of dental care. Although some parents shy away from accepting this type of assistance, they must think about the well-being of their children. Many families also qualify for a third-party credit program that does not require a high credit score. This allows the parents to pay for the dental services over time.
