Preventive Care

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!”

It’s an old saying, but it’s still true. And it’s especially true when it comes to dental care. A lot of the dental problems that appear later in life start early and can be prevented with good home habits and regular visits to a dentist.

When you bring your child in for regular examinations and cleanings with Dr. Kate, you’re giving your child a tremendous gift. Regular visits will help your child develop the understanding that the dentist isn’t a scary place and will also set the stage for a lifetime of healthy habits.

Without regular visits, your child is at risk for decay and even gum disease, which can develop earlier in life than you might suspect. We want every child to have a healthy, beautiful smile, so we offer a range of preventive services to maintain your child’s good dental health.

Gentle Cleanings & Hygiene Instruction

Cleanings are a major part of cavity and disease prevention. We work carefully and gently with your child, and we take the time to explain what we are doing in child-friendly terms that kids understand.

Even with a good home care routine, it’s difficult to remove all the plaque that can accumulate. Because kids haven’t developed the fine motor control and patience required for a really thorough brushing, it’s particularly important that they have regular cleanings with a specially trained pediatric hygienist.

We’ll talk with both you and your child about good techniques to use at home and recommend any tools that might make home care easier, such as flossers, which are often easier for kids to manage than dental floss.

Comprehensive Examinations

At your child’s examination, Dr. Kate will take a look at their development and keep an eye out for anything concerning. If needed, x-rays might be a part of your child’s exam. X-rays are one of our most valuable diagnostic tools, allowing us to see beneath the surface of your child’s teeth and gums so that we can catch cavities in their earliest stages and spot potential developmental problems. When we can catch problems early, we can treat them using much simpler and conservative measures.

Dr. Kate will also discuss any concerns that you might have about your child’s oral health and development.

Additional Preventive Measures

Fluoride treatments here in our office promote stronger teeth and reduce your child’s risk of cavities. The fluoride is simply swabbed onto your child’s teeth following their cleaning. It remains in place for several hours, and your child can eat and drink as soon as they leave the office!

Many kids benefit from sealants, thin, white coatings that fill in the deep grooves in their molars and help prevent cavities from developing. Molars are one of the most cavity-prone areas, and sealants are a great option for keeping kids’ teeth healthy and free from decay. If we believe that your child is a good candidate for this quick, simple, non-invasive treatment, we’ll discuss it with you.

It may seem like dental emergencies are a part of life (after all, who doesn’t know a kid who caught a pop fly with their mouth instead of their glove?), but they don’t have to be. We’ll discuss ways to protect your child’s teeth from trauma, such as mouth guards for sports. Preventive care doesn’t just happen in our office; we want to make it a part of everyday life.

Call to Schedule Your Child’s Preventive Care Appointment!

Are you looking for a pediatric dentist in Guilford, CT? Is your child due for a cleaning and examination?

Call Shoreline Children’s Dentistry, home of pediatric dentist Dr. Kate Glazer, to schedule your child’s next appointment!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you take x-rays? Are they safe for children?

X-rays are an important diagnostic tool that allows us to detect cavities between the teeth early on when fixing them is easier and less expensive. We also use radiographs to monitor your child’s growth and development. There are certain dental issues that can arise in a growing child that can be detected earliest on a radiograph, again allowing for a timely intervention.

We use digital radiography in our office and always use appropriate shields when taking images to minimize your child’s exposure. We use x-rays sparingly and only when indicated. This is based on your child’s risk for developing cavities and not by any sort of universal rules.

At Shoreline Children's Dentistry, we'd prefer to practice conservative dentistry whenever we can. X-rays allow us to do exactly that. We'd much rather find a problem when it's small. Not only is fixing smaller problems cheaper for you, it also prevents your child from experiencing pain caused by extensive decay or infection – and we know how important that is for you! Small problems caught early on have simpler fixes, which will be much easier for your child.

As a parent, Dr. Kate understands your concerns about x-rays, and she is happy to answer any questions or concerns that you might have about your child's care.

Do you recommend fluoride?

Fluoride is typically applied to your child’s teeth after a cleaning. For those children with a high risk of cavities, we may recommend additional topical fluoride treatments as part of a customized plan to reduce the likelihood of further decay. We'd always prefer to prevent a problem than treat one later.

If you have any questions or concerns about fluoride, we invite you to give us a call or discuss your concerns with Dr. Kate at your child's next appointment.

What types of insurance do you accept?

We accept most types of insurances. In order for us to best help you understand the ins and outs of your particular insurance plan (because they are all different!), please call our office with your insurance card information.

As a courtesy, we will submit your dental claims to your insurance company. Because we know no one likes surprises, we will do our best to provide accurate estimates for the patient portion of treatment prior to work being done.

We do ask for payment of that estimated portion at the time of service. If you have any additional questions regarding your insurance, Please feel free to call our office.

Meet Our Doctor:

Dr. Kate Glazer D.M.D., M.S.

Dr. Kate Glazer, affectionately known as Dr. Kate by her patients, grew up on the shoreline of Connecticut and is thrilled to be practicing here, in the area she considers home. Dr. Kate earned her Bachelors degree from Tufts University, then went on to receive her DMD from the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine (where she also happened to meet her husband, Jason).

Feeling the call to continue her education, she then attended Ohio State University, and this was where she received her specialized training in pediatric dentistry.

Dr. Kate ...