Preventative Care for Children

Safeguarding your child's smile for successful development.

Pediatric Dental Exam

Dr. Wilkerson adapts each checkup to your child's needs and comfort level.

Your Child’s Dental Home

A smiling little girl wearing a white shirt

The goal for your child’s preventive care appointments is to develop a lifetime of optimal oral health by offering them a “dental home.” At Children’s Dentistry in Charleston, WV, our “dental home” creates positive dental experiences for your child as they grow from infants through their teenage years, which will then follow them into adulthood.

Your child’s preventive care appointment is more than just a “cleaning.” At this appointment, our kids dentist will also:

Take any necessary radiographs and intraoral images to help diagnose caries (AKA tooth decay)
Perform a caries risk assessment
Perform an oral cancer exam
Provide fluoride application
Issue oral hygiene instructions and dietary recommendations

Preventing Future Cavities Today

A little girl smiling and sitting wearing a Minnie mouse headband with her two hands in her chest

After all necessary diagnostic tools and exams are complete, a caries risk assessment is performed – this is the level of risk your child has for future dental decay. The caries assessment tool helps our dental hygienist and Dr. Wilkerson determine any adjunct treatment or services needed to improve or maintain your child’s good oral health.

Based on the results, additional services may include:

More frequent cleanings
Prescription toothpaste
Sealants
Oral hygiene instructions and dietary recommendations

Pediatric Dental Cleaning

Helping your family to practice good at-home oral hygiene.

A woman in a bathroom brushing the little boy’s teeth and a little girl beside him holding a toothbrush and toothpast

Practicing good oral hygiene can lead to more than just healthy teeth and a beautiful smile. Preventative care does a lot for your child’s general health as well. Therefore, we recommend that your family visits Children’s Dentistry at least twice a year for a preventive care appointment, including a professional dental cleaning and examination.

During the dental cleaning, the hygienist removes the plaque and tartar that builds up on teeth no matter how good your child’s oral hygiene practices are at home. Plaque can lead to unhealthy gums and tooth decay, but the gentle and professional cleanings performed at Children’s Dentistry will help your child preserve their smile.

Cavity Prevention

Proactive care to stop dental issues in their tracks.

A little girl with brown hair wearing long sleeves flossing her teeth

Cavities in children happen for multiple reasons, and at Children’s Dentistry in Charleston, WV, we work closely with kids and parents to help prevent them. Most of the time, cavities are due to a diet high in sugary foods or drinks and a lack of brushing. Limiting sugar intake and brushing regularly, of course, can help but our preventative check-ups can be the back-up you need.

At the preventative care appointment, we’ll go over ways to reduce your child’s risk for developing cavities. Some tips for cavity prevention include:

Limit frequency of meals and snacks
Encourage and participate in your child’s brushing, flossing, and rinsing
Watch what your child eats and drinks
Drink more water and avoid sticky foods
Make treats part of meals and choose nutritious snacks

These regular dental check-ups will get your child off to a wonderful start!.

Hear from the Parents

‘‘My son suffers from anxiety and he enjoys his trips to the dentist.’’

Tracy H.

‘‘The wait was less than 1 minute. The staff was extremely friendly, & the dentist was wonderful! I felt that my children were so welcomed and cared for. This is truly how every visit with a dentist or physician should be.’’

Ashley P.

‘‘I will continue to take my kids here. They both love all the staff and ask to go their over our primary doctor.’’

Abigail R.

‘‘I love them. The staff was amazing with my daughter and the dentist was absolutely amazing. They are very good with children, nice, and super friendly.’’

Kendra S.

‘‘It was my daughter's first time ever seeing the dentist and I was worried, but they made her so comfortable. I was super pleased with them.’’

Barbara G.

‘‘I have been bringing my children to Children's Dentistry for years. I am so happy with the treatment my children get from Dr. Wilkerson and staff. They are second to none, and I highly recommend this establishment to anyone looking for a pediatric dentist. I could not be happier with the outstanding care my family has been privileged to receive over the years.’’

Nicole D.

‘‘The best! We love everyone in the office. They are so professional, friendly, and fast. It is truly geared towards children. Can't recommend them highly enough!’’

Gretchen F.

‘‘We love Dr. Wilkerson and the entire staff! Our appointments are fast, easy and make going to the dentist fun! Keep up the good work and thank you for being so accommodating during COVID.’’

Tara M.

‘‘I was HIGHLY impressed with the Covid-19 preventative measures in place. I feel everyone in the office helped create a safe environment. I was more than comfortable having my daughter there!’’

Taylor S.

‘‘We could not have found a better dentist office for our children. When your 2 year old cries in the car going home because “she wikes that place”, you know it’s a great experience.’’

Ashley B.

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Dentistry That's Fun

This is how we make your child’s visit special (for parents too!).

A family with a little boy and little girl child smiling together

We follow the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry…Opens a new window to the AAPD website…, which recommends the first dental visit by the patient’s first birthday to establish a dental home.

Here is what you can expect from your child’s first visit:

Step 1: We get to know your child and customize the dental experience for their comfort.
Step 2: We perform a safe and painless exam, going step-by-step to let your child know what to expect (in kid lingo, of course).
Step 3: We educate both the patient and parent on how to best maintain oral health at home. Remember, it’s a team effort.
Step 4: We create specific treatment plans when needed to improve your child’s smile because these are smiles you’ll always remember!

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Expect us to treat them like a child as we create a fun dental experience

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Why Choose Children's Dentistry