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ANXIETY-FREE PEDIATRIC DENTAL CARE

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Preventive Dentistry

Our goal is to prevent dental issues from arising. We recommend scheduling a check-up appointment every 6 months to ensure your child’s teeth are growing properly with no underlying problems. During these checkups, we will review proper nutrition and oral hygiene care. We provide fluoride and sealants and determine if your child needs any help with space maintenance, habit appliances, and sports guards.

TIPS FOR CAVITY PREVENTION:

– Limit frequency of snacks.
– Encourage brushing, flossing, and rinsing.
– Avoid sticky snacks and sugary drinks.
– Make treats part of meals.
– Choose nutritious snacks, like apples and cheese.

Specialized Care

Each child’s teeth are different. At Pediatric Dentistry of Winchester, we use one-on-one attention to create a treatment plan for each patient. Services we provide include fillings, crowns, extractions, baby root canals, space maintenance, and hospital dentistry.

Restorative Care

When decay has been taken out of your child’s tooth, the tooth structure is replaced with a “filling” material. A tooth-colored filling is made from a composite resin that can be shaped and shaded to match your child’s teeth perfectly. Tooth-colored fillings are virtually invisible! If the decay is large, it may require stainless steel crowns, which are the standard of care.

Advanced Technology

Radiographs (X-rays) are a very important and necessary part of your child’s checkup. Digital radiographs are a technological advancement that results in less exposure to radiation for our patients and an almost instantaneous picture for our dentists. Unlike traditional, film-based X-rays, digital X-rays often show more detail and can be archived in our paperless system for future quicker reference and comparison.

MAKING YOUR CHILD FEEL COMFORTABLE

NITROUS OXIDE SEDATION

Our most popular tool for helping our patients to be more comfortable with restorative dentistry is nitrous oxide (laughing gas). The AAPD (American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry) says that “Nitrous oxide with oxygen is a safe, effective sedative agent used to calm a child’s fear of the dental visit and enhance effective communication. Additionally, it works well for children whose gag reflex interferes with dental treatment.”

HOSPITAL DENTISTRY

Sedation may be indicated for children that have very high anxiety, children that are very young and do not understand how to be cooperative in a dental setting, children with special needs, and children who require extensive dental treatment. We also offer general anesthesia as a treatment option. These children may be treated in a hospital setting under general anesthesia. Here, an anesthesiologist monitors and keeps the patient comfortable while one of our doctors are able to complete the needed treatment. This setting enables children who cannot cooperate in the office to have all of their dental work completed in one visit and have no recollection of the treatment. Our team is very experienced in treating children under general anesthesia.

WHAT AGE SHOULD MY CHILD SEE A PEDIATRIC DENTIST?

The AAPD recommends that your child should be seen no later than 6 months after their first tooth erupts from the gum or by age 1. Little teeth need as much attention as big teeth to prevent decay and encourage life-long healthy habits.”

WHY CHOOSE PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY?

Dr. Donna has completed several years of additional training, beyond dental school, to specialize in providing dental care that’s specific to children. All of our kid-centered services are provided in a calm, caring environment in order to provide you and your child with a positive experience. In our opinion, taking your child to see a pediatric dental specialist is as important as taking them to see a pediatrician.

DO YOU CARE FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS?
Yes, we have extensive experience caring for children with special needs and are happy to make accommodations for your individual child.

Other Faqs

How to best prepare for your first visit

Have fun preparing your child for their first visit, like you would their first hair cut or traveling for a trip. Setting the expectation that the experience will be a fun and positive one, will help ease any anxiety your child might feel and increase your chances of an enjoyable visit. Having your forms filled out in advance will help expedite the check-in process and give you more time to ensure your child is excited to meet the doctor versus apprehensive about what’s to come.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD MY CHILD VISIT THE DENTIST?

Generally, your child should see the dentist every 6 months. Tracking oral habits, hygiene, and growth regularly is essential to ensuring we can prevent any arising issues before restorative actions have to be taken.

DO I STAY WITH MY CHILD DURING THE VISIT?

We invite you to stay with your child during the initial appointment. Beyond that, we suggest you allow our caring staff to guide your child through the dental experience. Our purpose is to gain your child’s confidence and overcome any apprehension. However, if you’d prefer to join the appointments, you are welcome to do so. For the safety and privacy of all patients, other children who are not being treated should remain in the reception room with a supervising adult.

WHEN SHOULD I START BRUSHING MY CHILD’S TEETH?

Even before your baby’s first tooth appears, we recommend you clean his gums after feedings with a damp, soft washcloth. As soon as his first tooth appears, you can start using a toothbrush. Choose a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small head. You can most likely find a toothbrush designed for infants at your local drugstore.

Tips for toddler tooth brushing:
Let your child pick out a few toothbrushes with his favorite characters and giving him a choice of which one he wants to use each time. This will give him some feeling of control over the situation.
Let your child brush his own teeth first, you will likely have to “help out” to ensure they are thoroughly brushed.
Let your child read some children’s books about tooth brushing.
Brush your teeth along with your child. Doing it together can make it more appealing.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY CHILD SUCKS HIS/HER THUMB?
Thumb Sucking

The large majority of children suck their thumbs or fingers as infants, and most grow out of it by the age of four, without causing any permanent damage to their teeth. If you child continues sucking after permanent teeth erupt, or sucks aggressively, let us know and we can check to see if any problems may arise from the habit.

DOES YOUR CHILD NEED BRACES?

If your child is age 7 or older, it’s time to visit an orthodontist. The earlier you can get your child in for an examination with an orthodontist, the easier it will be to ensure they start treatment at the right time to obtain the best results on the easiest path.

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