In our office, a good time to bring your children into see us would be on or after their three year old birthday. At that age they are big enough and mature enough to sit by themselves in the dental chair. We usually will not take any x-rays at this age unless there was an emergency situation. We would do a basic exam and polish their teeth. We would only go as far as the child would let us go into the appointment. We want this first visit to be a positive one. We would not force the child to do anything he or she did not want to do. We are fully able to handle any type of emergency a child of this age would have.

Sometimes children under the age of eight years old become unmanageable in the dental chair. Translation: They cannot or will not follow the dentists and assistants directions and will not cooperate. Of course, we will not force any treatment upon the child or even attempt to restrain them. If it comes to this point, the unmanageable/uncooperative child is referred to a children's specialist, (pedodontist). The pedodontist will ask that your child be sedated and the dental work can be started or completed. This scenario rarely occurs but if you as a parent reading this know that the disposition of your child would be best served with a children's dental specialists, then it may be in your child's best interest to begin your child's dental experience with a pedodontist.

We offer a wide range of preventive and restorative services for children. We do regular cleanings, exams, x-rays, fluoride treatments and fillings of all sizes. Many children's fillings most of the time do not require the use of local anesthesia. All the child would feel during these minor filling procedures is a little vibration on their tooth. Our hygenists are very gentle and the clinical staff members love to work with children.

We also place preventive dental sealants on the grooves found on the chewing surfaces of the baby and permanent molars. These sealants are painlessly bonded in and last for years. Sealants prevent decay from forming on the teeth. We place many sealants each year on many children's teeth. Many of these children will grow up never having to experience having a filling placed and experiencing the sensation of being numb with local anesthesia.

Children's Dental Emergencies:

If you child has a tooth knocked out during an accident, you have the "Golden Hour" to get him or her into the dentist to have the tooth re-implanted and saved. Do not wash off the tooth. Place the tooth in a glass of water or milk and quickly bring the tooth and child into the dental office. We can re-implant the tooth and through bonding and splint therapy anchor the tooth back into place. Chances are in the future, the tooth may require a root canal and a crown. If the tooth does not come out during the accident but instead is pushed up into the gums or is hanging there loose, we can still place the tooth back into its proper place and bond and splint it back into the tooth socket. To save an accident damaged tooth, treatment must be performed within the Golden Hour. Waiting longer to have treatment done, reduces the chances that the tooth can be saved. Even if the child says they're OK after an accident, please have them come in so an x-ray of the tooth can verify if any tooth structure, tooth nerve or tooth root has been damaged.