Dental Services > Pediatric Dentistry

Pediatric Dentistry: The Next Generation of Dental Care

It’s never too early to start caring for your child’s oral health. It is recommended that you establish a dental “home” for your child at the age of six months or when they get their first tooth.

This is to start making your child comfortable with the dentist, to detect any issues and intervene early if necessary, and to allow us to give you advice, tips, and support to help care for your child’s teeth. Baby teeth are important so that your child can chew properly for good nutrition and to maintain the spaces that their adult teeth will occupy. Cavities and infections in baby teeth can sometimes cause pain and can be difficult to treat, so it is helpful if we can prevent them entirely or detect them early. If your child hasn’t seen a dentist yet, don’t worry – just get them started as early as possible so we can ensure that their teeth are growing correctly and normally develop without cavities or other issues. Preventive care at our office might include x-rays based on your child’s age, fluoride treatments, or protective sealants on the chewing surfaces of your child’s molars to help prevent cavities. At W Dentistry, we want to be your FAMILY dentist. If you are looking for a place where you can get the care needed for yourself and your kids, you’ve found it. Our friendly family dentistry team is great with children and will help their first dental visit be a great, fun lifelong memory.

Is Your Child Hesitant to Go to the Dentist?

One common misconception that many parents believe is that children naturally fear dentists. This may be the case in some circumstances, but generally, children fear the unknown — and when this fear is developed, your child might not get the dental care they need. We make a special effort to make each visit a pleasant and non-frightening experience for our young patients by delivering compassionate dental care to help your child feel at ease. We also offer nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”) sedation to help put them at ease, if necessary.

Your Child’s First Dental Exam: What to Expect

Our dental team will perform a comprehensive exam at the initial visit to assess your child’s teeth and gums while ensuring their oral development is on the right track. One of our friendly hygienists will clean your child’s teeth and remove any harmful bacteria to avoid future cavities. After the exam, our family dentists will discuss any findings and answer any questions you may have about your child’s dental health or how to care for their dental hygiene better at home. If any treatment is necessary, we will determine together with you whether that is something that is safe to perform here in our office or if referral to a pediatric specialist would be more appropriate. We want your child’s care to be as comfortable and easy as possible for both of you.

How Often Should I Bring In My Child to the Dentist?

It is recommended that children see a dental hygienist at least twice a year for teeth cleanings and any needed dentistry. However, if your child has risk factors such as cavities or other health conditions, they may need to come in more often than just twice per year.

Gentle Restorative Family Dentistry

Even when you brush your child’s teeth multiple times a day and take the best quality of care at home, children can still be susceptible to cavities and tooth decay in some cases. Snacks, drinks, medications, and habits can all lead to serious tooth issues. Preventive care is our goal, but when necessary, proper restorative care is essential for protecting your child’s oral health and ensuring that tooth decay does not affect their oral development. At W Dentistry, our dentists take exceptional care to ensure your child is comfortable. We use the most high-tech dental technology available to maintain optimal dental health for their lifetime.

We understand that every child is different, and some children will feel at ease right away, and others may have high anxiety in the dental office. We are experienced working with children of all ages from infancy to the late teenage years, and we are experienced working with children with a wide range of special health care needs. We use a philosophy called “Tell-Show-Do” with nervous children to make them familiar and comfortable with the procedure before or as we go along. We can also provide nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”) sedation when a little extra help is necessary to help your child relax. If there’s anything we can’t do safely or comfortably for your child, we know great pediatric specialists who can! W Dentistry can be with your whole family along the journey to maintain excellent oral health.