Diagnostic

• Dental Examination
  A child should receive an oral examination from the dentist by 1 year of age. At this point, the parent should brush the child’s teeth for them with plain water only twice daily. The parent should also continue avoiding any transfer of decay-causing bacteria to the child by abstaining from any habits that transmit saliva, like sharing drinks. Also, as in the previous stage, keep frequently checking the child’s mouth for irregular brown or white spots, which may demonstrate evidence of tooth decay. Immediately make an appointment with the dentist if any such spots appear.
• X-rays
  To prevent tooth decay, the main areas of focus involve oral hygiene and diet modifications. The NIH describes good oral hygiene as brushing the teeth a minimum of twice daily, flossing once a day, visiting the dentist every 6 months for a professional teeth cleaning and check-up, and having annual dental X-rays and an exam to identify any development of tooth decay.

Preventive

• Teeth Cleaning
• Fluoride Treatment
  Fluoride treatment —sometimes sufficient to treat decay in the earliest stages before it eats through the outer enamel layer of the tooth.
• Dental Sealants
  The Mayo Clinic suggests dental sealants to help prevent dental cavities. Dental sealants are professionally applied to children’s teeth, usually after the molars erupt. They are plastic-like thin coatings put on the surface of the molars to keep plaque from amassing.

Restorative

• Fillings
• Crowns
  Porcelain or stainless steal crowns —used for decay that has expansively infected a primary tooth through the nerve; replaces the full natural crown of the tooth after the dentist drills through all of the decay and fills the tooth.

Endodontics

• Pulpotomy
  Pulpotomy —used for severe decay with nerve exposure of a primary tooth and requires removing pulp and applying medication before placing a crown.
• Root Canal Treatment
  Root canal —used for severe decay with nerve exposure of a permanent tooth that has become abscessed; involves drilling through all decay and applying medication before filling the permanent tooth.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

• Oral Surgery
  Treatment of Fort Hood soldiers in the aspects of oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, and restorative. Served as the Radiation Protection Control Officer for Dental Clinic #3.
• Tooth Extractions
  Dental extraction —only used for primary teeth that become decayed completely beyond repair and abscess; complete removal of the tooth ( dental extraction ) is the only option in this case.