Pediatric Dental FAQs

How often should I brush my kids’ teeth?

It is best to brush your child’s teeth two times a day, once in the morning and once before bedtime. For the prevention of cavities, it is recommended to only have plain water after the night time brushing. As soon as your child has their first tooth, start brushing their teeth. It is normal for them to be upset when they are young so follow up the brushing with big hugs.

My child has special needs, how will they be seen at the dental office?

We specialize in taking care of children with special needs. Our team is trained to see children with different medical conditions. We have the tools and resources to provide dental care in a safe and loving environment. We also offer Happy Visits for our patients at no charge. The goal of these visits is to allow your child to become more comfortable with us and with the office by allowing them to touch instruments, explore our new patient room, interact with team members, and be introduced to different dental items

What anesthesia options are offered for my child’s dental treatment?

As board certified pediatric dental specialists, we are licensed to offer different sedation and anesthesia options for our patients. If we feel that your child’s treatment experience will be more positive with some form of sedation/anesthesia, we will discuss it with you. We offer nitrous oxide, oral sedation, and deep IV sedation.

Is pain free dentistry offered for kids?

We are happy to offer pain free dentistry to our patients with choices between the Biolase Waterlase laser, the Wand, and Nusmile’s SleeperOne. If your child needs dental treatment, we will discuss the best options for your child with you.

Are lasers used for children’s dentistry?

Yes, lasers are used in children’s dentistry and we are happy utilize the Lightscalpel for soft tissue treatments and the Biolase Waterlase for hard tissue treatments. The Lightscalpel is the preferred CO2 laser for frenectomies.

How do I know my child needs a frenectomy?

Infants may benefit from a lingual (tongue) or upper lip frenectomy if they are having issues with nursing/feeding. Toddlers and young elementary aged children may benefit from a lingual frenectomy for speech issues. There are also patients who benefit from frenectomies for their growth and development. We are trained to evaluate each patient on an individual basis to determine if they will benefit from having a frenectomy or not.

What are the alternatives to tooth fillings?

If a child has a cavity, we plan the best choice of restoration/treatment for them based on their individual needs, diet, oral hygiene, age, and decay risk. Besides fillings, we can also slow down the progression of certain sized cavities with a brushed on liquid called Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF). We have seen many successes over the years with SDF.

Are there white crowns for kids?

Yes! There are white crowns for primary (baby) teeth when a cavity is too big for a tooth colored filling. These crowns are prefabricated so the best size of crown is placed on the tooth to restore it.