Dental Services for Kids
Pediatric Dentist Oregon City, OR
At Great Grins for KIDS - Oregon City, we understand that going to the dentist can be a scary prospect for any child. For this reason, we take every step to make our office as child-friendly as possible, allowing your child to feel comfortable. Our waiting area is filled with books and toys for children of all ages. During your first visit, we will introduce your child to the tools that we use to keep their teeth and gums healthy, which can often aid in relieving anxiety. We will work with your child to make sure that he or she understands what happens next as they get older.
Preventive Dentistry
Your child's milk teeth are going to one day be replaced with adult teeth, but just because these teeth are going to fall out doesn't mean they don't require care. Healthy teeth and gums are important to preventing tooth decay and gum disease, which can affect the development of adult teeth. We provide your child with cleanings, exams and X-rays to keep their teeth clean and check for the presence of any issues. Children are often prone to cavities, so we provide fluoride treatments to help keep enamel strong and prevent cavity formation. Moreover, dental sealants help to prevent cavities in the deeper crevices on the chewing surfaces of molars. We can help to explain the importance of brushing and flossing as well as help you come up with some creative ways to get a defiant child to the bathroom sink. Moreover, when the milk teeth do eventually fall out, we also offer space maintainers, which help to keep the spaces open for adult teeth to grow in properly.
Restorative Dentistry
Sometimes, things happen to your child's teeth that compromise their smile and the health of their teeth. Even though the milk teeth will eventually fall out, these issues can still present a problem and should be taken care of. Restorative dentistry can help to protect milk teeth as well as new adult teeth. Dental fillings take care of the damage caused by tooth decay, filling in cavities after the bacteria and decay are cleared out. For permanent teeth that have become infected, we can perform a root canal procedure. Should a tooth be damaged beyond repair, your child may need to undergo a tooth extraction. If your child loses his or her milk teeth too early, it can affect the eruption of permanent teeth, so, for this reason, we offer partial dentures. And if your child's teeth are significantly discolored, we can perform teeth whitening to restore their brilliant white smile.
Sedation Dentistry
We understand that your child may be a bit anxious when getting into the dentist's chair, even for something as simple as a cleaning. Sedation allows your child to get the proper oral care he or she needs without emotional trauma. We offer three types of sedation dentistry. The first is nitrous oxide, which is an inhaled “laughing gas.” Your child will inhale the gas through a mask and will be calmed immediately. The effects will wear off as soon as the mask is removed. Oral conscious sedation uses a medication that is taken by mouth to reduce anxiety, make him or her sleepy and increase happiness. Your child may not remember the experience. Finally, we also offer general anesthesia, which will allow us to complete dental work while your child is completely asleep.
Your Child's First Visit
One of the things we are most proud of here at Great Grins for KIDS - Oregon City is the way we treat our patients. Treating kids presents a lot of unique challenges that your typical dental practice is not ideally set up to handle. When a child enters a dental practice, many times, they are nervous or even scared to see the dentist. All of our staff are highly skilled and trained in working with kids. We find that greeting your children with a smile and excitement is the best way to break the ice and help them to feel comfortable. We will walk your child through our office and introduce them to the staff. Sharing the dental tools with your children is a great way to let them see that there is nothing to fear from their visit to our office.
The services at Great Grins for KIDS - Oregon City are meant to help your child have a healthy smile all the way into adulthood. If you have any questions, give us a call. Call us today at 971-470-0045 for more information, or to schedule your appointment, today!
