On behalf of my staff, I would like to welcome you to our office and thank you for selecting us to consider your child’s dental health needs. Pediatric Dentistry, Ltd. is dedicated to providing the highest quality pediatric dental services in a modern, efficient and comfortable manner with its major emphasis on prevention. Our goal for children is to have them graduate from high school with all their teeth, with as few fillings as possible and with a good functional bite. We hope that we can sufficiently educate and motivate your children so they are prepared to prevent dental disease.

First Visit

Our office, as well as the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, recommends that your child visit the dentist by his/her 1st birthday. Following a thorough review of your child’s medical and dental history your child’s first appointment will consist of a thorough examination. Most dental disease is preventable and we will provide educational assistance to assure your child a lifetime of excellent dental health. We may recommend x-rays to check for decay, infections in the bone, extra or missing teeth, position and location of unerupted teeth or any other abnormalities. We will examine the erupted teeth for decay lesions that need repair and also those that might be arrested without repair by the use of a preventive home care program, topical fluorides and plastic sealants. We will evaluate facial growth and development patterns of your child, try to note any tongue, lip, cheek or thumb habits that may influence the development of attractive teeth and determine if there is a need for any orthodontic treatment.

Prevention of Dental Disease

Dental caries (decay) and periodontal disease (gum infection) are preventable communicable bacterial infections that my be passed on from the primary caregiver to the child. It is essential we develop a partnership which consists of our staff, parents, and the patient to prevent dental disease and provide your child with a lifetime of excellent oral health. We will strive to educate parents and patients sufficiently to achieve this goal.

We firmly believe that preventive dental checkups are essential to the maintenance of oral health. We usually recommend dental exams and topical fluoride treatments every six months and cavity detecting x-ray films (bitewings) once every 12-18 months depending on previous dental history.

Behavior Management

To make your child’s visit to the dentist a pleasant one, there are some things you, as parents, can do. In discussing dentistry with your child, it would be helpful if you do not use the terms needles, shot, drill, pull, hurt or any other words which might have an unpleasant meaning. Every possible effort will be made to make the visit psychologically pleasant. I shall treat your child as I would my very own. The important thing is to do dentistry thoroughly and carefully. Please do not be upset if your child cries. Crying is a normal reaction to fear. Children may be afraid of anything new and strange to them. Kindness is the greatest contribution for overcoming fear and it must be our united objective to eliminate dental fears.

Most children who are old enough to understand and communicate are manageable in a typical office setting. It is our primary goal to make each visit pleasant and comfortable and our entire staff is dedicated to making your child’s visit fun. It is always easier to prevent problems than to have to do corrective treatment and it must be our united objective to work together for your child’s best interests. Each child is different and we will treat your child according to their individual needs and with input from their parents.

Hospital Dentistry

Some patients are not manageable in an office setting. For children with special needs we use Meritcare’s Outpatient Surgery Center and dental services are completed while the child is asleep under general anesthesia. If this is a consideration for your child we will thoroughly discuss the procedures, risks, alternatives and goals.

Infection Control

Our office will meet or exceed infection control policies outlined by the American Dental Association, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and OSHA.