Due to the patient’s age, extent of dental decay, and/or level of anxiety during his or her visit, some of our young patients require their dental treatment to be completed while they are either fully or partially sedated using laughing gas. In the past, this kind of treatment was restricted to a hospital setting which was inconvenient and often expensive. Now, medical anesthesiologists can bring their anesthesia supplies and equipment directly to the Young Kidz Dental office providing a safe, reliable, and cost efficient service for our young patients. Nitrous oxide is a very common, effective sedative used to calm children during their dental care visits if it is perhaps their first visit or if they are nervous about an upcoming procedure; it is safe, well tolerated, non-allergic, and the patient is usually fully conscious and able to respond to questions or requests during their dental care appointment. It has a rapid onset, is reversible, and can be adjusted to various treatment concentrations.

We recommend that some of our young clients use nitrous oxide during their visit for various reasons, but no matter the issue, our anesthesiologist will individually evaluate each patient’s medical needs and determine the most appropriate type of anesthesia for your child. The anesthesiologist will also provide continuous monitoring during your child’s treatment and give all of the appropriate pre- and post-operative care for the complete treatment of your child. Prior to your child’s appointment, we advise you to inform your kids a bit about their upcoming procedure and how the laughing gas will be used to calm your child before their arrival so that they will not feel pain or discomfort during their visit.

At Young Kidz, we offer one of the best child sedation dentists in the Portland area by using a blend of nitrous oxide and oxygen delivered through a nasal mask and absorbed in the lungs. Nitrous oxide is also called “laughing gas” because it creates a sense of calm well being and happiness; it also reduces the gag reflex and gently numbs the teeth and gums so that your child can relax and not feel any pressure during their dental cleaning or dental procedure.

As pediatric dentists, we monitor the child’s facial, jaw, and tooth development from a young age; therefore, we can spot or predict developing malocclusion such as bite problems, crooked or crowded teeth and intervene to guide the teeth properly as they grow into your child’s mouth, which is why at Young Kidz Dental, we offer a variety of proactive measures to prevent possible future dental care problems. We administer space maintainers which are appliances custom fit to your child’s mouth to hold open the empty space left by a lost tooth. This will prevent the remaining teeth from tilting or drifting into the empty space causing future orthodontic problems. You also have the option to prevent minor tooth movement with removable appliances and retainers that are custom fit to quickly and comfortably move specific teeth into proper alignment. Many kids also require some sort of bite correction. Young Kids Dental recommends appliances that are temporarily cemented into your child’s mouth which expands the upper palate to correct crossbite problems.

No matter the issue, at Young Kidz Dental we offer solutions for your child’s dental care in the Portland and Clackamas areas. Whether one of our young clients needs dental hygiene for kids, kids orthodontics, laughing gas for kids, or simply a routine dentist visit, Young Kidz will work to make the dentist a positive experience for kids!We offer general and pediatric dental services from highly trained dental professionals. If you would like to find out more information about dental laughing gas for kids or types of dental procedures, our team invites you to Call us today to make an appointment for your child!

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• Brush before breakfast. There is little time to spare on most school mornings. Sometimes kids eat their breakfast on the way to school. It’s not necessary to wait until after breakfast to brush. This will help ensure kids brush their teeth before heading off to school. “The goal is to prevent the pH of the mouth from dropping to an unsafe zone since cavities form in an acidic environment,” said Henson. “Studies show that if we brush before we eat, the mouth’s pH will not dip low enough to form cavities.”
• Don’t micromanage. Some parents tell kids to hold off brushing until after they’ve fixed their child’s hair. Allow children to brush their teeth while their hair is being done so no time is wasted and teeth are clean.
• Consider diet. School meals may contain processed and sugary foods. Parents who pack their child’s lunch should focus on sending perishable items, such as fruits and vegetables, that will provide children with healthy alternatives.
• Don’t overthink it. A little variety is nice, but there is no harm in giving kids the same lunch each day if it means it will be healthier. For example, cutting fruits and vegetables, and adding hummus and pita bread is healthy and convenient.
• Consider shelf life. Packaged foods that can sit on the shelf for a long period of time, such as crackers and pretzels, contain starch. Starch coats the teeth and can breed cavity-causing bacteria. Since kids may get these snacks at school, parents should avoid adding them to their pantry at home. Instead, opt for fresh fruits and vegetables or dried fruits like raisins.
• Choose water. Juice often contains more sugar than children should have in an entire day. This sugar can coat the teeth, promoting tooth decay. Sugar can also lead to an afternoon crash, which interferes with schoolwork. Instead of juice, give kids fruit and teach children to drink water.
• Be safe. Kids participating in organized sports should wear mouth protection. This is particularly true if they play soccer, baseball and basketball. Children should also always wear a helmet when riding bicycles or scooters. Helmets should also be worn when roller skating or rollerblading.
• Seek help. Children who fall on their face should visit the nurse and the dentist. Sometimes issues can develop slowly. A minor problem could actually affect the root of a tooth. If a permanent tooth is knocked out it must be replaced within 30 minutes. Never scrub a tooth that has fallen out, even if it looks dirty. This could kill its root.
• Don’t expect pain. Cavities in children don’t hurt until they become infected. So, some children with cavities may not complain about tooth pain.
• Be careful about braces. Dental care for those with braces is even more important. It can be tough to brush around braces and plaque can build up, leading to permanent damage. Teens often wear braces and hormonal changes that take place during adolescence can alter bacteria in the mouth.

More information

The American Dental Association has more about children’s dental health.

Copyright © 2015 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

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According to the American Academy of Periodontology, gingivitis is not limited to adults—it occurs in children and adolescents, too. Gingivitis in children can be easily treated and reversed with a consistent oral care routine of twice-daily tooth brushing. But early detection of gingivitis is essential so it can be treated before it becomes severe. Check your child’s teeth daily and pay attention to their gums as well.

Some other oral health points to keep in mind for babies and young children:

Babies

If you see spots or stains on your baby’s teeth, visit a dentist. Healthy baby teeth should be all one color, without spots or stains. Although baby teeth will fall out to make room for permanent teeth, it’s important to keep them clean. Tooth decay can occur in baby teeth, and it can be painful for the child and may lead to problematic infections. Most baby teeth are in place by about 2 years of age, and you can brush them with a soft toothbrush designed for you child’s particular stage development.

Young Children

Although young children may think they can brush their teeth themselves, most children don’t have the manual dexterity for thorough teeth cleaning until they are about 7 years old. Until then, help your child brush and floss. Let them “do it themselves” first, and then follow-up by helping them brush and floss again. Most young children thrive on regular schedules, so try making morning and evening tooth brushing and flossing a family event and do your own brushing and flossing at the same time.

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At Young Kidz Dental, we believe that oral health for children is of the utmost importance. Because of this, we strive to teach our patients about good oral care practices from the time they are very young.

In addition to offering basic dental services, our team specializes in early orthodontics in Oregon. If you think your child might need early orthodontic intervention, don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation with us. The earlier orthodontic needs are met, the easier your son or daughter’s early life will be.

Our effective thumbsucking and pacifier treatment options are especially popular among parents. If we determine that your child does, in fact, require orthodontic care, we will work closely with you to create a treatment plan that fits with your lifestyle.

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It is important to teach children that dental care is enjoyable, not scary, from the time they are very young. Good oral health is the key to good overall health. If you’ve been trying to find a great kids’ dentist in Oregon, schedule an appointment with Young Kidz Dental. Our welcoming, colorful office helps both children and their parents feel instantly at ease. Furthermore, our warm staff members and kind pediatric dentist in Clackamas will melt away any fears your son or daughter may have. We hope that once you visit us, you will be so satisfied with your experience that you won’t have to look for a dentist for children in Oregon ever again.

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Well, the main reason is the prevention of tooth decay. Not only can unchecked tooth decay lead to more serious problems like cavities (caries), the gum disease gingivitis, or even tooth abscess – all important issues in themselves – but can negatively affect your child’s development, too.

People need healthy teeth for a lot of reasons from eating and speaking to communication and learning – these are all things that are incredibly important for a growing child. Poor oral health can wreak havoc on their confidence too: they may be afraid to smile for fear of showing damaged teeth, for instance. All this means that, in order to prevent highly preventable dental problems from developing, it’s vital to find the best ped dentist (pediatric dentist) for kids that you can!

If you’re looking for a pediatric dentist in Clackamas county and the surrounding areas – from Milwaukie, up to Portland and Tigard and beyond – there are certain crucial services you should make sure are provided before setting up an appointment for your kids dentist.

Read on to learn exactly what these are and what they entail, and how we work them into our own practice here at Dr. Kasey’s office in Clackamas.

Regular 6-month Dental Exams

Tooth care is an ongoing process. As nice as it might be to visit a dentist once and have perfect dental health for a few years, that’s just not realistic!

A good rule of thumb is for children (and adults) to visit their dentist or pediatric dental office at least twice each year, as this interval allows the doctor to catch problems before they become more developed and difficult to treat.

Twice-yearly visits are also important for the maintenance of existing measures: for example, a filling could develop into a cavity within 6 months to a year.

Therefore, any good dentist should recommend and provide checkups for your children at least twice each year – this is a staple of kids’ pediatric dentistry.

Fortunately, insurance providers tend to cover exactly two dental visits per year. Here in Oregon, Medicaid (known as Health Share of Oregon) allows bi-yearly visits for children. 

Tooth Cleaning and Polishing

Tooth cleaning and polishing will clear your child’s teeth of plaque, which is what leads to tooth decay when allowed space and time to grow.

Referred to as prophylaxis, getting your child’s teeth professionally cleaned twice each year will greatly reduce the risk of cavities and other mouth diseases, forming an excellent supplement to regular brushing and flossing. 

Low Radiation Digital Radiographs

Digital X-rays allow a dentist to get a clear picture of what’s going on inside your children’s teeth, which helps nip problems in the bud before they develop.

In digital x-rays, images are transmitted directly to the office’s computers, and – as compared to traditional x-ray methods – radiation is reduced by around 90 %, which is hugely important since it can have negative effects on a child’s bone growth. Low radiation digital x-rays are fairly common in most pediatric dental offices in recent years, although any dentist who does not offer this safe method isn’t worth your time. 

Fluoride Treatments

You’ve probably heard of fluoride and its importance for tooth health – any toothpaste you or your child use should be fluoride-based. 

Many people get fluoride from drinking water, too – however, here in Oregon the amount of fluoride in our water is not as high as other parts of the country. 

As such, any good dental office in Clackamas and the surrounding areas should offer supplementary fluoride treatments in the form of varnish or foams. These treatments can help build up the strength and resistance of your child’s teeth to acids. We offer a fun selection of flavors as well to make the experience more enjoyable for your child.

Brushing and Flossing Instruction

Your child’s habits at home are just as important as those twice-yearly visits to a knowledgeable dentist that’ll form the foundation of their dental health regimen. As such, a good dental office should teach them just which habits to develop

For example, they should brush their teeth at least two times a day, typically after waking up in the morning and before going to sleep at night. It may be tough to get your kid to floss, but it should be done at least once every day.

Making sure your child develops good habits with brushing and flossing tends to spill over into other areas of their lives, too. For example: did you know excellent oral health in children is linked to better performance in school? This may sound strange, but it makes sense if you consider that both revolve around having good habits!

Dietary Counseling

The next piece of the proper oral health puzzle is diet. Arguably the most important element in your child’s dental health is the time spent away from the dentist, making smart and healthy choices!

It’s no secret that kids love sugary foods and drinks, and no wonder: they taste great! However, an unhealthy diet is probably the one factor most responsible for the fact that around 50 % of children in the country have tooth decay.

Any good pediatric dental office should provide your child with easy to understand dietary information that they can incorporate into their lives when they leave the dental chair. Of course, good dietary habits will benefit not only your child’s oral health but their overall health as well!

A Fun Atmosphere

Let’s face it – sometimes it’s tough to get your kids to any doctor’s office, dentist included. Pediatric dental offices should do their best to create a fun, welcoming atmosphere that your child may even be a bit excited about going to! From our toddler friendly waiting area packed with fun toys and books, to tablets for the older children, we’ve tailored the entire experience to put even the most nervous kiddos at ease.

Pediatric Dentist with Gentle Touch/Care

It goes without saying that a kids dentist who works with children should be, well, good with children! They should have a focus on children and understand that many might be a bit apprehensive sitting in the dentist’s chair, doing all they can to put them at ease. This is one of our primary focuses here at Dr. Kasey’s office.

Special Needs and Communication

Every child is unique, and we here at Dr. Kasey’s office do everything in our power to meet the needs of your children. We have experience working with children with a range of conditions and disabilities and are able to communicate with you beforehand so that we can make your child as comfortable as possible when at their appointment.

A Professional and Caring Staff

The last thing you need on your child’s first visit to the dentist is a rude staff – dental offices should provide top-quality, courteous, and friendly service. Our staff strives to do just that, servicing healthy smiles with smiles.

Nursing/Baby Bottle Instruction

If you have a newborn, you’ll know that nursing or using bottles can get more difficult once your child’s teeth start to grow in. In fact, improper nursing or baby bottle usage can actually lead to teeth decay way before your child is eating solid foods.

That’s why it’s important to find a dentist who can offer instruction as to how to avoid these issues and, since they’re so central to early childhood, any pediatric dental office worth visiting should be able to do so!

Thumbsucking/Pacifier Counseling

Thumbsucking in children is common – it’s normal for newborns and the very young and will usually stop on its own. However, sometimes it doesn’t stop and can cause certain issues including – you guessed it – damage to teeth.

The same is true if pacifiers are used too often. The ideal kids’ dentist will be able to teach you how to help your child move on from thumbsucking and pacifiers so their teeth develop in as healthy a way as possible.

Sealant Application

Sealants act as a form of preventative care, creating a barrier between gums and tooth enamel. They are sometimes necessary and can provide protection to certain cavity-prone areas (for instance, if cavities keep popping up in the same area of a child’s mouth). Any good children’s dentist will have a lot of experience with sealants (trust us).

Sports Safety Instructions

Participating in sports can give kids some of their best memories. Unfortunately, there’s always a risk of injury to various parts of the body, teeth included. A good pediatric dentist should be able to give helpful advice to a child so that they know how to prevent mouth injuries and – of course – be on standby should injury occur.

Wrapping Up

All of the above services are provided at Young Kidz Dental and Dr. Todd’s office. We hope you can see some of our healthy dental ethos and dedication to top-quality care throughout this post, resulting in our position as one of the top pediatric dental offices in the Clackamas, Portland, Milwaukie, and Tigard area.

No matter which dentist you choose, be sure they provide – at the very least – the services and qualities explained in this article. Working with the best dentist for kids from the get-go means establishing a firm foundation for dental health throughout their lives!  We know how you feel and strive to meet your expectations of providing the very best for your loving child or children.  

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