At our office, we do not do a traditional cleaning or scaling on a
child’s teeth until they reach the age of 10 or have most of their
permanent teeth. This is for several reasons.

First of all, we find that a traditional cleaning can be frightening for most young children. It is important to us that your child has a good
experience and develops a positive relationship with going to the
dentist. A traumatic experience at a dental office can affect a
child for the rest of their life. We want to not only take good care
of your child’s teeth, but we want your kids to have a good time!
Secondly, cleaning and scaling can potentially harm the enamel of a
child’s teeth.  This is because the enamel on a young child is much
softer than that on an adult’s teeth. Scaling and performing an
adult prophylaxis on a child can burn away this protective tooth
layer and create the possibility for future dental problems.  In an
effort to help protect your children’s teeth and to ensure that they
have a positive experience, we brush their teeth with a regular
toothbrush, in order to resemble the way they are accustomed to
having their teeth brushed at home. 

However, we do use a special tooth paste clinically designed to polish and deep clean teeth so you can be sure your child is leaving with an exceptionally clean mouth!  We also work with children on brushing habits, instructing both parents and children on how to better take care of their teeth!
Of course, once a child has reached an appropriate age, we perform a full
adult cleaning.  Dr. Howell will also scale away any tartar build-up or
stains that might have accumulated on their teeth, using an electric
scaler.

If you prefer to have an adult cleaning done on your child before
they reach the age of ten, we are happy to accommodate you.

Annie Stott

Dental Assistant

Dr. Howell loves to see a child with no cavities.  Dr. Howell believe in prevention so that he can see more of those happy kids!  He doesn’t just want to help the ones with problems, he wants to stop cavities before they can start. 

We like to see patients more often for flouride treatments.  The flouride treatment we use helps to prevent decay by up to 70%.  We also give lessons on how to properly brush and floss teeth.  Our stain and brush lessons are 3 visits for $15.  During these lessons an assistant will stain your childs teeth, have them look in the mirror to spot where sugar bugs might be hiding and helps them to brush in a way that will help rid their teeth of those bugs. 

Through careful study, Dr. Howell has created a preventative program that has helped tremendously on patients who have a high rate of decay.  it recalcifies the teeth, makes them stronger, and stops decay from starting or spreading all together. 

Our ultimate goal is healthy happy children with healthy happy teeth!

Chris Ward

Dental Assistant

            As we approach the summer, I wanted to address an area that can help or hurt your child.  That is the treats that come with the summer months that everybody enjoys eating.  Obviously with any kind of treats that involve sugar, the germs in our mouth enjoy these types of summer treats as well.  These germs in our mouths are able to digest those treats faster than our own digestive systems can do it.  Once those germs (really they are parasites) eat the sugar, they create an acidic environment in the mouth which causes cavities in the teeth.    This can usually begin after twenty minutes from the first exposure of the sugar into the mouth.  Every time we something with sugar (glucose/fructose), the environment in our mouths will remain acidic for about three hours unless we do something to reverse that.

            An excellent way to reverse the acidic environment in our mouth is to eat something that will neutralize the acids.  One classic food that is readily available is to eat cheese whether it be Swiss or cheddar cheese.  It is ideal to eat the cheese before one eats the sugary snack.  This will counter act the effect of the germs.

            Another alternative to a sugar snack is to chew a gum with xylitol such as found in Orbit or Trident Gum.  This type of sugar is one that the germs cannot digest and actually causes the germs to break down and die.  It is a consideration as a replacement to the summer snacks.  Obviously if one has to have the sugar snack, then brushing right after would be ideal.  Again the toothpaste will neutralize or dissolve the acid preventing the enamel of the teeth from breaking down into a cavity.

            Obviously, sticky treats can be more damaging than liquids or non-sticky treats.  When it comes to that point in time when you give a child the summer treat, consider these points when deciding what to give them.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to give me a call.  I appreciate the patients we care for and always want them to have healthy teeth and gums for life.

Dr. R. Bruce Howell

Here at Dr. Howell’s office, we are always striving to find the best way to keep teeth healthy and beautiful. Our Preventative Program has improved the health, appearance, and confidence of each enrolled patient. Most of the patients in this program are 10 years old or older. In this program, each child receives a kit to take home which includes a whitening kit as well as special fluoride and other treatments to strengthen their teeth. We teach the patients and parents how to use this kit and visit with them every couple weeks to mark their progress. At each visit, we work on improving brushing and flossing techniques.

We are very excited with the results of this program! Through it, we have seen many patients’ dental health improve drastically. Teeth with beginnings of decay restore themselves through this daily treatment. Smiles are brightened. Each patient has become more confident in their appearance. Our patients are so excited by their beautified teeth that they want to brush and floss everyday. By building this confidence and enthusiasm at a young age, these patients are developing habits that will keep their teeth beautiful and healthy throughout their lives.

Chris is our newest addition to the team. He is a wonderful dental assistant. Parents have commented on how good he is with their children, and you know what… we think he is great too!

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

To celebrate Children’s Dental Health Month, Dr. Bruce Howell is holding an Open House on February 18, 2010 from 4-7 p.m. in his Orem office.

Come celebrate with us and enjoy:
Free “Stain and Brush” lessons,
Healthy snacks, and
Enter our drawing for a free Sonicare toothbrush, camcorder, restaurant gift cards and other prizes.