Going to the Dentist

A dentist is a doctor who is specially trained to care for teeth. Dentists check your mouth for any problems and make sure your gums are healthy. They also see if your teeth are growing the right way.

Most kids should visit the dentist for a checkup every 6 months.

What’s It Like at the Dentist's Office?

At the dentist’s office, you’ll sit in a big chair that has a place to rest your head and room to stretch your legs. Next to the chair there may be a little sink with a cup to rinse your mouth.

The dentist or a someone called a dental hygienist (say: hi-JEH-nist) may put a paper bib on you to protect you from things like water spray. You’ll feel the chair tilt back so the person can take a good look at your mouth. 

What Will Happen During My Dental Checkup?

At your dental checkup, the dentist, a dental hygienist, or sometimes both will see you. Here’s what you can expect:

1. Getting teeth and gums checked. To look at your mouth closely, a person will use a bright, overhead light that shines down like a big flashlight. They’ll also use tiny dental tools like a little mirror to better see your gums and behind your teeth. 
2. Tooth cleaning. A person will use small tools like a tooth scraper to remove plaque (say: plak). Plaque is a thin, sticky layer that coats your teeth and can cause a cavity (say: KAH-vuh-tee). A cavity is a decayed, or rotted, part of a tooth. Sometimes water will be sprayed on your teeth to help clean them and a little tube will suck out the water.
3. Tooth polishing. Next, a tool like an electric toothbrush will polish your teeth. The special “toothpaste” will feel a little grittier than the kind you use at home — almost like sand is in it.
4. Tooth flossing. The dentist or hygienist will use dental floss to get in between your teeth and remove bits of food that a toothbrush can't reach. They can also show you the right way to brush and floss at home.
5. Fluoride treatment. At your visit, you may have something called fluoride (say: FLOOR-ide) put on your teeth. Fluoride is a mineral that makes your teeth strong and helps prevent cavities. It comes as a gel, foam, or “paint” and often tastes like bubblegum or grape. The treatment takes just a few minutes. You may have to wait a short time before eating or drinking.

Why Do My Teeth Need X-Rays?

At some dental visits the hygienist will take X-rays of your mouth. X-rays are special pictures that can show cavities hiding between teeth and any problems in your gums.

X-rays don’t hurt and take just a few seconds. The hygienist will put a piece of plastic in your mouth to keep it in the right position. You’ll stay still for a few moments and may hear a buzzing sound as the hygienist takes the picture.

The dentist will look for cavities on the X-rays. If you have a cavity, you'll likely come back to the dentist's office another time to get the cavity filled (or fixed).

The dentist will also look at how your top and bottom teeth fit together. This is called your bite. If there’s a problem with your bite, you might need to go to another kind of dentist called an orthodontist (say: or-tho-DON-tist).

When your checkup is over, you may get a new toothbrush or dental floss to use at home.