Dental Terms

We understand that it can be difficult to motivate your children to take responsibility for their oral health. Below are a few tips to help instill good hygiene habits in your children:

  • Routinely talk with them about why good oral hygiene is important.
  • Make brushing fun by buying soft-bristled toothbrushes with their favorite characters on them.
  • Consider implementing a reward chart to track their daily brushing activity.

When you bring your children to Vital Smiles Georgia, we will continue your efforts of making oral hygiene a positive experience. Our practice is devoted to children under the age of 20, so our team has experience relating to and understanding children. At Vital Smiles Georgia, we:

  • Offer compassionate and gentle care to help your children overcome any anxieties regarding the procedures or instruments.
  • Use fun terms for our instruments to help create a safe and positive atmosphere.
  • Encourage you to use some of our terms to help familiarize your child with our terminology.

Vital Smiles Dictionary of Kid-Friendly Dental Terms

  • Bubbles or jelly: a fluoride treatment we apply during a pediatric teeth cleaning. This helps strengthen your child’s teeth
  • Electronic toothbrush: a motorized prophy brush used to clean your child’s teeth during check-ups
  • Mr. Bumpy: a slow-speed tool that helps remove decayed material from your child’s teeth and helps to prepare teeth for fillings
  • Mr. Thirsty: a suction straw used during cleanings and procedures to suck up excess liquid in the mouth
  • Prince Crown or Princess Crown: a chrome or porcelain crown sometimes used in dental restorations
  • Silver Star: a sliver filling, made from an amalgam of restoration material
  • Sleepy Juice: the anesthesia used for numbing the teeth and gums during procedures
  • Sugar bug: cavities, or dental caries, in teeth
  • Tooth camera: the radiograph equipment used to take X-rays of your child’s teeth
  • Tooth counter: the dental explorer used to examine teeth
  • Water Whistle: a high-speed tool that helps to remove decayed material from your child’s teeth

Cleaning

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We keep your child’s teeth sparkling clean with the help of our electric tooth brush (a motorized prophy brush). We then apply bubbles (fluoride) to keep his or her teeth strong.

Filling Cavities

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We use fun tools like Mr. Bumpy (our slow speed drill) to remove decay. Your child will then receive a silver star (filling), and the tooth will be good as new.

Sealants

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Sealants are thin, protective coatings used to prevent tooth decay. They fill in the tiny grooves of the tooth surface so that brushing becomes more effective.

X-Rays

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We use a tooth camera (X-ray machine) to take pictures of your child’s teeth. This gives us a better look at his or her smile. Our Digital X-rays are state of the art, limiting radiation exposure.