Your first visit will include:

• A careful review of your child’s health history.

• An examination of teeth, jaws and oral soft tissues.

• A thorough program of preventive home care including: brushing, flossing, diet, and appropriate use of fluoride.

• A dental caries (cavities) risk assessment.

• Information about Early Childhood Caries, which can be caused by inappropriate nursing habits, use of the bottle or sippy cups.

• The latest facts about finger, thumb, and pacifier habits.

• Information on growth and development of teeth and jaw structure.

• If needed, a comprehensive treatment plan for your child’s dental needs.

• A financial estimate conveniently integrated with your dental insurance that helps you obtain your maximum benefit.

Beginning your child’s dental visits early (at twelve months old) will provide your family with the knowledge and skills you need to keep his/her teeth cavity-free. Any early-stage tooth decay can be easily and quickly treated and long, extensive appointments can be avoided.

We strive to make each and every visit to our office a fun one!

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My Visit to the Dentist Personal Coloring Book

A personalized child's coloring book to help your child
look forward to their first dental visit.

Boy Coloring Book  /  Girl Coloring Book

What is a Well Baby Check-Up?

A Well Baby Check-Up is usually recommended at twelve months of age.

As you sit next to your young child holding hands, we will check his/her teeth for proper eruption and any early tendencies toward decay. We will also examine the health of the gums and the development of jaw structures.

Any early-stage tooth decay can be easily and quickly treated, and long, extensive appointments can be avoided. Baby Bottle Caries are a major disappointment for all concerned and are challenging and expensive to restore. Visiting the dentist early insures your baby’s health.

Our expert team will discuss age-appropriate brushing techniques and healthy feeding methods with you. This will help you prevent problems before they start. We’ll also cover the benefits and the proper use of fluoride. Finally, we’ll address finger sucking and pacifier habits, and any other questions you may have.


Q. Why are primary teeth (Baby Teeth) so important? Aren’t they going to be lost anyway?

A. Keeping primary teeth in place until they are lost naturally is very important. These teeth serve a number of critical functions:

• Beautiful smiles help children feel more self-confident.

• Healthy teeth allow children to learn more easily because extensive decay hurts, distracting from learning and robust development.

Healthy primary teeth also:

• Permit children to chew properly and gain better nutrition.

• Promote correct development of speech and language skills.

• Help guide the permanent teeth by saving space for them.

• Prevent embarrassing bad breath and unattractive smiles.

Beautiful Smiles Build Children's Self-Confidence

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Special Services Provided

• We are uniquely qualified to offer a choice of nitrous oxide, oral sedation, or I.V. sedation with an anesthesiologist either in the office or the hospital to help insure a pleasant and comfortable visit for your child. Please click here for more information concerning Sedation Dentistry.

• We research your dental insurance for you and prepare a detailed financial estimate.

• We offer our services in several languages for your convenience.

• Our practice is covered for emergencies 24/7.

To make the financial aspects of treatment as easy as possible we:

1. Accept all major credit cards.

2. Create individual, flexible financial arrangements.

3. Integrate your insurance so you receive your maximum benefit.

4. We accept most dental insurance.

5. Care Credit is available for your convenience. Care Credit is a revolving charge account that is easy to use, takes just minutes to apply, and is ideal for all treatment costs not covered by insurance.

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Cosmetic Dentistry

Bleaching

Bleaching is a common and highly desirable procedure that lightens the tooth shade to enhance aesthetics. Bleaching is safe, effective, and can be performed at home. New methods and materials have made dentist-supervised bleaching more affordable and attainable. With professional supervision, anyone can have a whiter, more beautiful smile.

Cosmetic Bonding

As children grow to adolescence, their appearance—particularly their smile— is a very important factor in promoting self-confidence and a healthy self-image. When decay or injury necessitates the filling and repair of teeth, cosmetic bonding may be indicated. We use the most advanced materials and techniques. Patients and parents appreciate maintaining a beautiful smile with the new invisible fillings. These modern restorations look and feel like natural teeth! Your child can eat, speak, and smile with confidence and self-assurance.

Aesthetic Anterior Crowns

When a primary tooth suffers extensive decay, a filling is not an adequate restoration. Instead, a stainless steel crown is required. Fortunately, the front of the crown on a front tooth can be white . This has the obvious advantage of creating a beautiful smile while preserving the tooth until its normal time to come out (exfoliate). Children and parents alike prefer white crowns to the traditional stainless steel crowns.

Pre-Treatment	Post-Treatment

Replacing Anterior (Front) Primary teeth

When decay is so severe that the teeth have become infected (abscessed), they must be removed. Replacement of the upper anterior teeth is desirable in patients who are five years old or younger. The appliance of choice is fixed (cemented to place) and not removable. This “baby partial denture” looks and feels natural to the patients and parents. In addition to maintaining aesthetics it helps the young child achieve correct speech patterns, chewing efficiency, and the self-confidence that comes with normal appearance.

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Prevention

Q: Why is preventive dentistry important for your child?

A: Preventive dentistry means a healthy smile for your child. Children with healthy mouths chew more easily and gain more nutrients from the foods they eat. They learn to speak more quickly and clearly. They have a better chance of good general health, since disease in the mouth can endanger the rest of the body. A healthy mouth is more attractive, giving children confidence in their appearance. Finally, preventive dentistry means less extensive and less expensive treatment for your child.

Q. When should I start cleaning my baby’s teeth?

A: The sooner the better! Starting at birth, clean your child’s gums with a soft infant gum swab and water. Upgrade to a small toothbrush when the first tooth appears. Remember that most small children do not have the dexterity to brush their teeth effectively until they are about five years old. Be cautious with the toothpaste and only use a tiny smear.

Q. How can I prevent tooth decay from improper use of baby bottle, sippy cup or nursing?

A: Encourage your child to drink from a cup as they approach their first birthday. Children should not fall asleep with a bottle. At-will nighttime breast-feeding should be avoided after the first primary (baby) teeth begin to erupt. Avoid having the child drink juice from the bottle, and encourage drinking juice from a cup at mealtime. Use only water in a cup between meals. Stop bottle-feeding around 12 to 14 months old!

Q: How can I help my child enjoy good dental health?

A: The following steps will help your child be part of the cavity-free generation:
1. Beware of frequent snacking
2. Brush effectively twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
3. Floss once a day
4. Have sealants applied when appropriate
5. Seek regular dental check-ups (every six months)
6. Assure proper fluoride through drinking water, fluoride products or fluoride supplements

Here are tips for your child's diet and dental health.
1. Ask your pediatric dentist to help you assess your child's diet.
2. Shop smart! Do not routinely stock your pantry with sugary or starchy snacks.
3. Only buy "junk foods" on occasion.
4. Limit the number of snack times; choose nutritious snacks.
5. Provide a balanced diet, and save foods with sugar or starch for dessert.
6. Don't put your young child to bed with a bottle of milk, formula, or juice.

Reprinted with permission of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
211 E. Chicago Avenue, Suite 700, Chicago, IL 60611-2663
 Phone: 312-337-2169     Fax: 321-337-6329
email: aapdinfo@aapc.org   website: www.aapd.org

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Sealants
 

The chewing surfaces of back teeth are easily susceptible to cavities in children. Made of clear or shaded plastic, sealants protect these grooved and pitted surfaces of the molars and help to keep them cavity-free.

How do sealants work?

Even if your child brushes and flosses carefully, it is difficult— sometimes impossible— to clean the tiny grooves and pits on certain teeth. Food and bacteria build up in these depressions, placing your child’s teeth in danger of decay. Sealants help "seal out" food and plaque, thus reducing the risk of decay.

How long do sealants last?

Research shows that sealants can last for many years. As a result, your child will be protected throughout the most cavity-prone years. If your child has good oral hygiene and avoids biting hard objects, sealants will last longer. Your pediatric dentist can easily replace or repair lost or damaged sealants.

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Restorative Dentistry (Fillings)

We provide a full range of restorative aesthetic dentistry including white (composite) fillings in front and back teeth, silver fillings, stainless steel crowns, pulpotomies (nerve treatments) and white crowns on front teeth.

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