Every Dentist Needs Your Help Keeping Your Teeth Healthy

The preparation and start of kindergarten can be an exciting time for parents and kids, but it's also the time when your child needs vitally important screens performed by people other than their pediatrician. The school they are going to for kindergarten may even require it.

It can be hard to tell if there is something wrong with your child because they can't always express problems at a young age. You need to schedule an appointment with an eye professional, dentist and with an audiologist. Here are a few things to consider.

Vision Screening

At the pediatricians office the child will only be tested for minor vision impairments, and the child should really be seen by an optometrist or an ophthalmologist. They can have their eyes dilated and they can get a more in depth screening, to ensure that they don't have any vision problems that could cause the child issues at school and with development.

Dental Checkup

Dental issues at a young age can cause speech problems, potential orthodontic problems and pain. If the child has teeth that aren't in alignment they could have difficulty pronouncing words, and if their jaws are misaligned they could have mouth pain and sleeping issues. They should see a dentist like Dr. Jerry F. Maymi & Associates before they go to school for the first time, and the dentist may suggest that they see a orthodontic professional.

Hearing Test

A lot of problems can stem from poor hearing. Your child may not be hearing words and sounds properly, so they aren't speaking clearly or with the right enunciation. If the child can't hear properly they also may be speaking loudly all of the time, or missing out on things going on. An audiologist will test the hearing to make sure that they don't have any serious deficiencies, and to see what can be done.

You should talk with your child's preschool teacher to find out if there is any other concerns that need addressed. The teacher may think that the child needs to see a speech therapist or a physical therapist if they notice anything else problematic in those areas. You don't want to wait until your child is struggling to find out that they have something that could have been caught by a professional screening that you neglected, so make the appointments and get your child checked out before they head into school for their first day of kindergarten.