Kids Corner

What Does the Dentist Do?

The dentist is a doctor who has trained specially to care for people's teeth. When you go to the dentist for a checkup, they will check for any problems by looking carefully at your teeth and gums. The dentist will also make sure that your teeth are developing properly as you grow.
Visit your dentist every 6 months to make sure that your teeth and gums are healthy, and that you're looking after your teeth properly.

What Happens at the Dentist's Office?

If you've arrived a little early, you will stay in the waiting room until you're called to see the dentist. You'll go into a special examination room and sit down in a big, comfortable recliner chair. The chair has a place to rest your head and loads of room for you to stretch your legs. Next to the chair there is a tiny basin with a cup to rinse out your mouth when the dentist tells you to.

One of the first people you'll meet at the dentist is the dental hygienist.

The dental hygienist will clean and polish your teeth; first, the hygienist will brush your teeth with a special toothbrush and toothpaste. Then, the dental hygienist will floss your teeth and show you the proper way to brush and floss your teeth at home.
You might also have x-rays and flouride treatment.

The dentist will look carefully at your teeth and gums to make sure they're strong and healthy. The dentist will also check the way your top and bottom teeth work together. This is called your bite. If your bite is not quite right, you may be referred to an orthodontist. The dentist will study your X-rays (checking for cavities or other problems) and ask if you have any questions about your teeth.

Dental Words

Some words your dentist uses might be new to you. Here are a few special dental words and what they mean:

• bacteria — (say: bak-TER-ee-uh) tiny organisms that live on your teeth and are found in plaque
• cavity — (say: KAH-vuh-tee) the decayed, or rotten, part of a tooth
• dental hygienist — (say: hi-JEE-nist) a person with special training about the proper way to keep teeth and gums clean and healthy
• dental X-rays — pictures of your teeth and gums that will show a dentist whether there are any cavities
• flossing — no, its not a dance move! This involves using a piece of waxy string called dental floss to get in between your teeth and remove food particles that your toothbrush can't reach
• fluoride treatment — (say: FLOOR-ide) a gel or foam applied to teeth that makes them strong and helps prevent cavities
• orthodontist — (say: or-tho-DON-tist) a doctor who specializes in correcting the shape or positions of your teeth
• plaque — (say: plak) a thin, sticky layer containing bacteria that grow on your teeth