We understand the importance of making dental care as convenient as possible. We have designed our practice to be kid-friendly, so that children can feel comfortable and relaxed in our setting.
The best way to preserve the health of your child’s teeth and gums is to maintain a sensible oral hygiene regimen. Following the American Dental Association and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry guidelines, we like to start seeing children when they are about a year old. This allows us to detect any potential problems and address them early. It can also acclimate your child to dental visits and promotes a lifetime of healthy smiles.
Dr. Caroline or Dr. Molly will thoroughly assess your child’s teeth and mouth, and then work with you to develop a restorative dental plan, if necessary. Our approach is non-intimidating, non-judgmental, and very gentle. Remember, our primary goal is to make your child smile!
What is general anesthesia?
General anesthesia provides a way of effectively completing dental care while a child is asleep.
Who should receive dental care with general anesthesia?
Children with severe anxiety and/or the inability to relax are candidates for general anesthesia. Usually these children are young or have compromised health and helping them control their anxiety is not possible using other methods.
Is General anesthesia safe?
An experienced health care provider, specifically trained in delivering general anesthesia, is responsible for the general anesthesia delivery, monitoring and medical care of the child. Many precautions are taken to provide safety for the child during general anesthesia care. Patients are monitored closely during the general anesthesia procedure by anesthesia personnel who are trained to manage complications. Dr. Caroline and Dr. Molly will discuss the benefits and risks involved in general anesthesia if it is recommended for your child’s treatment
Don’t let fear of the dentist prevent your child from receiving the treatment he or she needs. Dr. Caroline and Dr. Molly are trained to administer oral sedation and nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, to help your child relax. The American Dental Association endorses sedation as an effective way to make many patients comfortable during their dental visit. We welcome your concerns as an important part of planning the best treatment for your child’s treatment.
This type of sucking is considered to be normal and developmentally appropriate for babies and young children. Sucking provides security and for young babies, it is a way to make contact with and learn about the world. In fact, some babies begin to suck on their fingers or thumbs even before they are born.
Most children can be expected to cease sucking their thumbs, pacifiers, or other objects by 24 to 36 months of age. However, some children may continually suck on fingers, pacifiers or other objects over longer periods of time which may contribute to bite and jaw growth problems. We will carefully monitor the way your child’s teeth erupt and jaws develop at each visit. Dr. Caroline and Dr. Molly have many approaches to help families gently encourage their children with challenging sucking habits.
Primary, or baby, teeth serve as placeholders for permanent teeth. The premature loss of primary teeth may cause other teeth to drift out of position, which can make permanent teeth grow incorrectly. Our dentists use custom-made space maintainers to stop movement and guide permanent teeth into their ideal position. Space maintainers may be fixed or removable and are typically made of stainless steel and/or plastic.