Q.Tell us about yourself and your practice.
A. I have been practicing pediatric dentistry for 15 years. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I then completed a residency in general dentistry followed by my pediatric dental training. I have served as an attending faculty to general dental and pediatric dental residents for about 10 years. I became board certified in pediatric dentistry in 2005. (I am married with 2 terrific children ((aren\'t all of ours)), ages 8 and 4 and spend as much time as possible with them). My goals are to: provide experiences so that the children will have good, positive feelings of going to the dentist. Experiences that will last a lifetime. To provide high quality dentistry in a fun environment; helping parents raise healthy smiles. Toward this,we\'ve created a unique jungle environment that mesmerizes the children. Our jungle safari guides greet them with their own passport to a healthy smile, and transport them on their visit. They learn about proper toothbrushing at our real waterfall- hygiene falls, take digital xray pictures with Lyle- our stuffed gorilla, and have their cleanings done while looking up at tree and sky.
Q. Please explain the basic services you offer.
A. We provide routine pediatric dental care, from cleanings and fluoride to full restorative care (fillings, childrens crowns, extractions, etc). We provide various treatment options to accommodate children of different levels of cooperation including nitrous oxide (laughing gas), conscious sedation, and treatment under general anesthesia). Our approach is tailored to each child. We also care for children with special needs.
Q. What types of Insurance do you accept?
A. We are in network for most dental insurances.
Q. What payment options do you offer?
A. We accept Visa and Mastercard, as well as offer payment plans through CareCredit
Q. When should parents take their children to have their first checkup?
A. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Association of Pediatrics both recommend the first visit to the dentist by the childs first birthday. At that visit, we perform an examination to insure that things are developing normally and to provide the parent with education to help prevent problems. We provide this service at no charge up until the childs is 2 years old. At 2, we begin more comprehensive evaluation and cleanings.
Q. What is the difference between a pediatric dentist and a family dentist?
A. After completing dental school, pediatric dentists receive an additional 2-3 years of training specifically centered on children, from infants through adolescents, including those with special needs. This allows a further in depth understanding of children and their particular needs, not seeing them as "little adults." Pediatric dentists are the "pediatricians of dentistry."
Q. Are thumb sucking and pacifier habits harmful for a child\'s teeth?
A. Finger and pacifier habits can definitely affect the development of the mouth. Some children may rest their fingers or pacifiers in the mouth, often for a considerable amount of time, without much force and thus cause little change. Others, can suck on them quite passionately, even for a minimal amount of time, and cause significant remodeling of the bones and teeth. This can impact the child in different ways, most commonly requiring orthodontic intervention at some point. There are different aspects of finger and pacifier habits as it relates to the overall physiological and social development of the child that should be considered in addressing this with each child and should be done on an individualized basis.
Q. How often does a child need to see the pediatric dentist?
A. An individualized assessment is best for determining what is best for each child. This is primarily based on their likelihood of developing caries. For many children, every 6 months is ideal. Others may require more frequent visits, some less. An important consideration is that the tooth structure of baby teeth is not as strong as permanent teeth. Subsequently, cavities progress much more rapidly.
Q. What should be used to clean a baby\'s teeth?
A. You should begin cleaning your baby\'s teeth as soon as they erupt into the mouth. A soft, damp cloth or a plastic sleeve that fits over the finger allow for easy control and cleaning at this age. As the baby grows, they at some point learn the fun of biting our fingers. While the babies receive much joy in our reaction, that may be a good time to switch to a toothbrush.
Q. How can a mom prevent decay caused by nursing?
A. Decay is caused by bacteria. It requires the "perfect storm" of a combination of the bacteria, the frequency of feeding, and the baby/childs individual immune capabilities. The major areas where moms can minimize chances of developing decay are to (1) take care of their own mouths with good brushing and flossing. Babies will get the cavity causing bacteria from their primary caregivers. (2) Sleep time is key. Brush the teeth or wipe the mouth out after feeding, especially before bedtime and during sleep. While we sleep, we don\'t make saliva that helps get rid of the acids produced by the bacteria.
I added this extra question that I hear frequently.
Q. Why are cavities fixed in baby teeth?
A. They\'re going to fall out anyway. Since a cavity is a bacterial infection, it will progress until it is either removed by the dentist or the infection becomes so bad that it spreads through the roots up into the bone and causes an abscess. This can involve pain and swelling. It occasionally requires hospitalization with intravenous antibiotics. Unfortunately in severe cases, it can even cause death. On the other hand, if the tooth is nearing the time when it naturally falls out and the decay will not likely cause any problem, the dentist may recommend no treatment at all.
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