Children’s Dentistry

Your child’s first experience with the dentist is an important one that will set the tone for dental experiences for the rest of their life.

This is our opportunity to teach your child about their teeth.

Introducing dentistry to children in a positive way is our main priority. Our goal is positive experiences from the beginning to the end of each appointment.

Learning about proper oral health starts at a young age. Building on positive first experiences over time allows children to build confidence in their oral health providers and in the dental environment.

We encourage parents to bring children in within 6 months of their first tooth erupting. At the age of 1 or 2 our main priority is simply to have a “happy visit” or “chair ride”. This first experience familiarizes your child with the dental clinic setting to set the foundation for a positive relationship with the dental office. 

Building trust with the dentist and staff and maintaining trust throughout childhood and into adolescence will set the stage for a lifetime of great smiles, dental awareness and oral health.

Regular dental visits during childhood years are important to identify potential problems that may arise as children transition into their adult teeth (adult dentition).

 

If your child’s teeth or jaw are not developing along a typical transition your child may require interceptive treatment (interceptive orthodontics) to guide dental development into an optimal functional and esthetic adult dentition.

Some children are simply to young to have dental work safely without being sedated. We offer nitrous oxide sedation “happy air” for children ages 4-12 where appropriate.

If the extent of dental decay is significant or a child’s apprehension in the clinical environment is too strong this may warrant a referral to a pedodontist. In these cases other more advanced forms of sedation are typically offered to ensure your child avoids unpleasant first dental experiences and avoids future negative feelings towards dentistry.