When it’s time to prepare for kids to go back to school, their mouths are often the last thing on their parents’ minds. Between back-to-school clothes shopping and getting all the classroom necessities, we understand. But seeing a pediatric dentist in Prairie Village before returning to school can play an important role in your child’s oral health over the course of the academic year. To make sure your kids are ready for the start of term, let’s check out a few reasons why it’s important to see the dentist before going back to school.

Clean Tiny Teeth

Many pediatric dentists will recommend that parents schedule a checkup and cleaning in late summer to remove any effects of leftover summertime snacks that may have occurred. Plus, parents don’t have to worry about school schedules at this time. Regular checkups and cleanings help minimize the risks of developing cavities, give your dentist time to chance to apply any sealants to areas that may need extra protection, and detect any problems that may be lurking but have not yet shown themselves on the surface. 

Treat Any Cavities

If your child has untreated cavities, waiting to treat them could actually affect their grades. Cavities can lead to: 

• Pain
• Trouble Eating 
• Speaking Difficulties
• Infection

Any one of these symptoms can make sitting in a classroom and paying attention very difficult. So in actuality, untreated cavities can affect your child’s ability to learn and retain information. Even if your child doesn’t have an obvious cavity, a back-to-school dental checkup with your pediatric dentist in Prairie Village can catch any areas of decay and treat them before they turn into bigger problems. 

Keep Kids In School 

Dental problems can affect a child’s ability to learn, but they can also keep kids out of school. As we all know, the best way for children to learn is to have them attend lessons as often as possible. However, when a child is sick or dealing with a dental problem, they may miss valuable class time. According to this survey, 30% of U.S. children aged 6-12 have missed school because of dental problems. 

Schedule Your Next Appointment

As the school year gets underway, parents are bombarded with a ton of scheduling stress. This can make it really easy to forget to schedule your child’s next dentist appointment on time. In fact, this is a pretty common occurrence, and many parents forget about their children’s oral health until an uncomfortable or painful situation rears its head. We understand — life is busy! But if you visit your pediatric dentist in Prairie Village before school starts, it’s a great time to schedule your next visit so it’s on your calendar and off your mind. 

While it’s never a bad time to bring your child in for an exam, we encourage parents who haven’t brought their children in to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Even if they think their child is cavity-free, our team of professionals can perform a thorough checkup and uncover any potentially harmful issues that could be causing pain or affecting the quality of life. We look forward to seeing your little ones on our dental chairs!

Welcoming new patients from Johnson County and the Kansas City area at all of our pediatric dental offices in Overland Park, Prairie Village, Olathe, Kansas City!