Preventive Kids’ Dentistry

At Sunnyvale Kids, our team is dedicated to helping kids’ smiles stay healthy for a lifetime. To achieve this, Dr. Thomas  is proud to offer a comprehensive selection of pediatric preventive dentistry to our patients in Sunnyvale, TX and beyond! We help children understand the importance of maintaining their oral health from an early age by offering easy-to-follow explanations, tips and tricks to keep their smiles healthy and bright.

Our team follows guidelines set by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists (AAPD), recommending that children receive a preventive dental checkup every six months. When you visit us, we always encourage both you and your child to ask questions and take an active role in the child’s oral health. Our dental experts are here to provide empathetic oral health education, and address any concerns you may have about receiving dental care.

If your child is anxious about visiting the dentist, ask us about the safe sedation dentistry options we offer to help make their appointment more relaxing.

What To Expect During Your Child’s Preventive Dentist Appointment

During your child’s regular teeth cleaning appointment, our pediatric dental team will thoroughly examine their teeth and gums for any signs of gum disease or tooth decay. If we do find anything concerning, we will provide a complete explanation of our findings and your child’s recommended treatment options.

Scheduling regular preventive dentistry appointments allows our dentists to closely monitor any new changes in your child’s mouth. We work to ensure patients all the information they need to help keep their child’s teeth and gums healthy.

After we examine your child’s teeth and gums, we will thoroughly clean their teeth and treat them with a simple brush-on mineral application designed to strengthen their smile. We’ll also check that you and your child have everything you need to take care of their teeth at home.

• Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) Treatment

  • At Sunnyvale Kids Pediatric Dentistry, we offer Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF)—a safe, non-invasive treatment that helps stop early tooth decay and prevent cavities from getting worse. It’s especially helpful for young children, nervous patients, or areas that are difficult to treat with traditional fillings.

  • SDF is a liquid that is brushed directly onto the tooth surface, where it works to kill cavity-causing bacteria and strengthen enamel, acting almost like a “pause button” on small cavities. It’s quick, painless, and doesn’t require drilling or numbing.

• Can be used on both baby and adult teeth

• Ideal for small cavities or early lesions

• Great for young children or patients with dental anxiety

• A helpful option when traditional fillings may need to be delayed

• Often used along with dental sealants for added protection

Protective Pediatric Dental Sealants

Studies have shown that 88% of cavities in American school-aged children are caused by food and bacteria being caught in their rear molars. Protective dental sealants are thin coats of plastic our doctors can apply to your child’s rear molars to protect their deep grooves and depressions from collecting harmful bacteria and food particles.

At Sunnyvale Kids, our dentists typically recommend applying a protective sealant to your child’s back teeth, premolars, and molars. While the sealant is designed to last for several years, we will continue to monitor and ensure it stays intact during your child’s regular pediatric preventive dentistry appointments.

Help Your Child Prevent Cavities

Cavities in young patients are most often caused by diets high in sugar and improper toothbrushing habits.

To help your child avoid painful cavities and damaging tooth decay, help them brush their teeth regularly and limit their sugar intake. If your child is just beginning to learn how to brush their teeth, be sure to give them the help they need to thoroughly brush each tooth twice a day.

Our Cavity Prevention Tips

• Limit your child’s intake of sugary snacks
• Encourage regular brushing, flossing, and rinsing
• Avoid sticky foods
• Encourage your child to choose low-sugar, nutritious snacks