Services
 |
Every child should have a beautiful smile and healthy teeth. To achieve this, a child requires proper diet, consistent home care, and regular check-ups beginning at an early age. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends the first check-up with a dentist between the age of six to twelve months, with follow-up visits at every six months to monitor dental development and prevent dental disease. During these visits, we will examine the child, give you updates on their oral health and growth, and show you proper home care. |
The first dental visit
Preparing your child for their first dental visit will help your child to feel more comfortable when they are in our office. At this visit we will examine the child’s teeth, give you updates on their oral health and growth, and show you proper home care. There are some things you can do to help this visit be as positive as possible for your child:
Do
- Try to make dental visits fun for your child
- Tell your child that the dentist is a nice doctor who will count their teeth
- Set a good example by brushing and flossing in front of your child daily and by visiting your dentist regularly
Don’t
- Use fear provoking words such as “hurt, drill, shot, needle, or pull”
- Let your child know that you may have anxiety about going to the dentist
- Let siblings or friends tell your child scary stories about going to the dentist
- Bribe your child into going to the dentist
Baby Teeth are Important!!!
Baby teeth are important to your child’s overall health. Children need strong, healthy baby teeth to eat well and a healthy smile builds self-esteem. Baby teeth are also important in maintaining space for permanent teeth. Early loss of baby teeth can lead to unhealthy diet and orthodontic problems. We provide comprehensive preventative, restorative, and orthodontic services in our office for your child at every stage of their growth and development.
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous Oxide, laughing gas, is used in our office to help to relax your child.
http://www.aapd.org/publications/brochures/nitrous.asp
Oral Sedation
Our office offers oral sedation. If you and the doctors determine this is the best treatment for your child, we will sedate your child in the office with oral medication. The doctor will monitor your child and the treatment can be done with the child comfortably sedated.
http://www.aapd.org/publications/brochures/sedation.asp
General Anesthesia
Our office offers general anesthesia under the supervision of an anesthesiologist. If you and the dentist determine this is the best treatment for your child, the anesthesia will be administered in our office and your child’s treatment can be done while the child is asleep.
http://www.aapd.org/publications/brochures/anesthesia.asp
Orthodontics
We offer orthodontics for both children and adults. Our doctor can do a consultation for you to determine what kind of treatment is needed. At the first orthodontic appointment, Dr. Li will perform a detailed examination of the dental (teeth) and skeletal (jaw) relationship and their relationship to the face. He will also review your child’s health history and additional records (e.g. x-rays) which may be available at that time. After the examination, Dr. Li will review his findings with you and give you preliminary information of the existing orthodontic problem and treatment solutions. This is a complimentary initial examination. If treatment is recommended at this time, our treatment coordinator will go over the series of appointments needed to begin treatment, and the estimated treatment cost and payment options.
All digital, High tech office
Our office uses all digital x-rays which have much less radiation. These x-rays are high quality digital x-rays which can be viewed in high resolution to examine your child’s dentition.
Sealants
Sealants are an important preventative tool to prevent cavities. We can do sealants on permanent or baby teeth to help to protect them. The protective coating goes over the tooth and fills in any grooves to help to prevent decay.
http://www.ada.org/public/topics/sealants.asp
http://www.aapd.org/publications/brochures/sealants.asp
Stainless Steel Crowns
When a tooth has been destroyed by decay to the extent that there is little tooth structure to support a filling, or nerve (pulpotomy) treatment had to be performed, it is best to surround that tooth with a crown. The crown can help to keep the tooth structure together where opting for a filling on these severely decayed teeth can cause the weakened tooth to fracture which may mean the child will need an extraction. These crowns are usually done on back teeth.
Space Maintainers
Space maintainers are placed when a baby tooth has been extracted prematurely. These appliances help to hold the space for the permanent tooth that will come in. If the space is not maintained the permanent tooth may not be able to come in properly.
http://www.ada.org/public/topics/space_maintainers.asp
http://www.aapd.org/publications/brochures/space.asp
