Dental Cleanings & Exams

During your first appointment, we at Young Smiles plan to perform a dental cleaning and a dental examination. The examination will be performed by Dr. Rau or Dr. Nguyen. We recommend regular or periodic cleanings with exams every 6 months.

During this appointment, the teeth are usually cleaned, flossed, and polished. We use different techniques to help your child achieve good cleaning depending on their age and behavior. After the dental examination and cleaning, we offer a fluoride treatment.

The dental exam is designed to diagnose many issues. Dental decay and tooth fractures are the most common diagnoses that parents expect. However, we will be looking for problems such as cancer, problems with the soft tissue in the mouth, problems with occlusion (bite), or even problems with other aspects of the head and neck. Dr. Rau and Dr. Nguyen are trained to help keep your child as healthy as possible.

Radiographs (X-rays) are often used to diagnose problems in your child’s mouth. We work to take as few radiographs as we can, yet still make appropriate diagnoses. Radiographs are used to make sure your child is developing normally and to look for disease. If you have questions about radiographs, please feel free to ask Dr. Rau or Dr. Nguyen about your child’s needs.

Recent updates have been made to the protocols for using lead vests for X-ray safety. To read more about why we no longer need lead vests, click here.

Dr. Clint Rau and Dr. Thao Nguyen want your child's overall health to be good. We want your child to have healthy teeth for a lifetime and will often discuss nutrition and behavior patterns, such as flossing and brushing, to help your child obtain great oral health.

You may request an appointment by clicking here or calling us at our location in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, at (920) 652-1100.