Services
Dental education and guidance for parents and patients
Children should visit the dentist by their first birthday. It is important that your child’s newly erupted teeth (erupting at six to 12 months of age) receive proper dental care and benefit from proper oral hygiene habits right from the beginning.
Dental emergencies
If you need urgent treatment after hours, you can call our emergency number. We are always here to assist when your child’s dental health is at risk.
Dental examinations and cleanings
The health of your child’s teeth and mouth is very important to the well-being of his or her entire body, and while routine brushing and flossing at home is necessary to keep your child’s smile looking its best, visiting the dentist for a comprehensive exam and cleaning is essential. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that your child visit the dentist every six months.
Digital X-rays
Using the most advanced dental technology possible is just as important as staying up-to-date on the latest treatment techniques. Because our practice is dedicated to providing your child with the safest and most convenient treatment options available, we utilize advanced digital X-ray technology in our office.
Fluoride application
A fluoride treatment in the dentist’s office takes just a few minutes. After the treatment, patients may be asked to not rinse, eat, or drink for at least 15 minutes to allow the teeth to absorb the fluoride. Depending on your child’s oral health or your doctor’s recommendation, your child may be required to have a fluoride treatment every three, six, or 12 months. Your child’s dentist may also prescribe at-home fluoride products such as toothpaste, or antibacterial rinses.
Sealants
Dental sealants are unfilled resins that bond and harden in the deep grooves on the tooth’s surface. When a tooth is sealed, the tiny grooves become smooth, and are less likely to harbor plaque. With sealants, brushing becomes easier and more effective and cavity formation is less likely to happen.
Custom mouth guards
Mouthguards help protect teeth and gums from injury. If your child participates in basketball, boxing, hockey, football, gymnastics, lacrosse, martial arts, racquetball, rugby, track and field, skateboarding, skiing and snowboarding, skydiving, soccer, surfing, volleyball, water polo, weightlifting or wrestling, it is recommended by the American Dental Association that a mouthguard is worn.
Cosmetic dentistry
Your smile is one of your most important features. Dentistry is continually evolving, and with a variety of advanced treatment options, achieving a beautiful, healthy, aesthetic smile is made easy. We will help your child’s smile with repairs of fractures from trauma, closure of spaces left between the teeth after braces (or instead of braces), and tooth whitening.
Fillings
Our dentists are happy to provide tooth-colored fillings that mimic the appearance of natural teeth. Sometimes, if a cavity is too large for a filling, the dentist may recommend a crown instead.
Crowns
Crowns are a full-coverage dental restoration used to strengthen and protect the tooth by covering up all surfaces of that tooth. Crowns are “cemented” onto an existing tooth and fully cover the portion of your tooth above the gum line. In effect, the crown becomes your tooth’s new outer surface. For baby teeth, we offer crowns in stainless steel (silver) or ceramic (white). We also can make custom white crowns for adolescents.
Pulp therapy for baby and permanent teeth
A “baby root canal” is used for baby teeth that are decayed and infected to the nerve. This treatment is recommended to preserve the tooth in its natural position and avoid issues such as space loss due to shifting of the teeth or difficulty eating. Permanent teeth in young children and/or adolescents can also benefit from this type of treatment.
Extractions
There are times when it is necessary to remove a tooth due to infection or for orthodontic reasons. We are here to guide you and your child through this experience.
Nitrous oxide (laughing gas)
Nitrous oxide is the most common method to relax anyone undergoing dental treatment. Your child will wear a nose mask and breathe in a mixture of laughing gas and oxygen. They will feel “floaty,” and disconnected from what’s happening around them, helping to minimize anxiety, fear, and discomfort.
Hospital dentistry
Not every child can receive dental treatment in the traditional office setting. As pediatric dentists, we are able to offer hospital dentistry to children to provide dental care in a safe and effective environment at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City.
Do you have any questions?
Get in touch if you have any questions about our services.