Children's Dental Care

We welcome children of all ages; those in preschool or primary school are usually seen in the morning. And of course Dr. Durden is more than happy to answer any questions you may have about thumb sucking, snoring, pacifiers, bedtime bottles, sports injuries to the face and teeth, or crowded or missing teeth.

Your Child's First Visit to the Dentist
A positive first dental experience is a MUST in our office - If your child has never been to the dentist before or just needs to start with a ride in the "spaceship" (dental chair) and a prize, that’s great!

We might also begin with a "Happy Visit" - a fun and friendly teeth cleaning while your child holds "Mr. Thirsty" (the suction) and learns what we are all about.

Our Dental Hygienists will teach both you and your child how to make brushing and healthy eating habits fun and rewarding to help take care of that precious smile!

Dental Sealants
We may recommend plastic coatings, or "Sealants" to cover deep grooves in your child’s teeth and prevent bacteria from penetrating the tooth surface.

How Sealants Work. Plastic dental sealant material is painted on the chewing surface of the tooth to seal tiny grooves and help prevent decay-causing bacteria from penetrating the enamel. The material is hardened using a special light – no drilling or numbing required! The sealant helps to smooth the rough surface of the tooth, making it easier to keep clean.

With proper maintenance, sealants can last for years. We will check your child’s sealants during regular cleaning visits, and can re-apply the sealant material if necessary.

As Your Child Grows Up
At periodic intervals during your child’s growth we will take a “panoramic” xray which gives us a digital image of the teeth and jaw bone structures. This xray, combined with an oral examination, helps us monitor development of permanent teeth and look for orthodontic conditions which may require correction.

A few words about Baby Teeth...
Early loss of baby teeth can often contribute to problems with development and alignment of permanent teeth. We work with you and your child to protect the health of baby teeth as well as grown-up teeth.

• If a cavity develops in a baby tooth, we may treat the tooth with a filling or, in the case of deep decay, treat the nerve of the tooth and place a pediatric dental crown to maintain its position.


• If the tooth is lost prematurely, we are able to place a space maintainer to hold the space until the permanent tooth fully develops.

Keeping Your Child Comfortable is our #1 Priority
We want your child to have happy memories of visits to the dentist! We have “Laughing Gas” (Nitrous Oxide Sedation) for a mildly relaxing, temporary effect to keep your child comfortable during fillings or tooth extractions.

In some cases, if your child is anxious about coming to the dentist or has extensive needs, we may recommend a children’s dental specialist, a Pediatric Dentist, to achieve the best possible experience for your child.

If you have questions about your child’s dental health, please do not hesitate to Contact Us. We would be glad to help!