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Infant Oral Exam
Some children’s teeth erupt even before they take their first steps. That’s why the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association all recommend your baby visit the dentist by age 1. In this most important infant oral exam, our staff will help decrease or eliminate factors in the diet that may lead to decay at an early age. We perform a knee-to-knee exam with the child and engage parents by having them assist with the oral exam, showing them the dentition, soft tissues and methods of brushing. By sharing this approach with our parents, we teach children the importance of healthy teeth right from the start.
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Preventive Dentistry
We practice preventive dentistry which includes brushing, dental development, flossing, fluorides,
oral habits, orthodontics, parent involvement, proper diet, sealants, and/or sports safety. Preventive
dentistry is important for your child because it means long-lasting, happy smiles. A beautiful smile is
attractive and can give your child confidence in their appearance. Preventive dentistry also means less
extensive - and less expensive - treatment for your child.
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Restorative Care
Our restorative care includes dental sealants, nerve treatments, crowns, extractions and other services
that repair your child's teeth or address other oral diseases and conditions.
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Behavior Management Methods
Every child is different, and each requires their own behavior management method to help them
complete needed dental treatment. Behavior management methods are used to help a child feel
relaxed and confident, to guide a child in coping with dental treatment, and to complete dental
treatment as efficiently and as safely as possible. We will recommend the best behavior management
method(s) for your child based upon your child's health history, special health needs, dental needs, type
of treatment required, emotional and intellectual development and your parental preferences.
To be a well-informed parent, you should know the choices available to help your child during dental
treatment. Working together, we will select the best treatment method(s) to make your child's visit as
safe and comfortable as possible.
Tell-Show-Do: Our team explains the treatment in words just right for the child's age and level of
understanding, shows the treatment in a simplified manner and then proceeds with treatment.
Positive Reinforcement: The child is given praise for any behavior that helps with treatment. Every
child does something right during a dental visit.
Distraction: With this technique, our team will choose treatment words carefully, pass instruments out
of the child's sight and occasionally distract the child's attention away from the treatment with
conversation, music or games.
General Anesthesia: Medically speaking, general anesthesia is an induced state of consciousness.
In practical terms, the patient is asleep and unable to respond to touch or voices. It is most often
recommended for very young children with extensive treatment needs and/or an inability to
communicate and cooperate. Sometimes it may also be the best way to provide treatment for
children with special medical / developmental needs. All parents should know that children face the
same risk under general anesthesia for dental treatment as for any other surgical procedure. Our office
teams with a highly qualified anesthesiologist and certified registered nurse anesthesist to provide
anesthesia services to our patients. Parents should talk openly with us about the benefits and risks of
this treatment.
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Interceptive Orthodontics
Our office provides interceptive orthodontics. This means we will monitor or head off any growth and
development discrepencies that may impede the alignment or emergence of the primary or
permanent teeth. Problems that can result in orthodontic treatment include thumbsucking, crossbites,
overbites, protruding upper teeth, open bites and / or crowded teeth. As your child matures, we can
help guide your child's teeth with minor orthodontic corrections before they become a major concern.
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Hospital & Special Needs Dentistry
Some children have special challenges related to their age, behavior, medical status, developmental
disabilities, learning limitations or other special needs. These conditions often times lead to increased
oral diseases. In order to treat these patients properly, our team uses several management techniques,
including general anesthesia and/or privileges to provide dental care in a hospital setting with or
without general anesthesia. We are in constant contact with your child's primary care physician
and medical specialists to ensure complete and comprehensive pediatric dental care.
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