Do you like going to the dentist? Many adults don’t, often due to uncomfortable memories from their childhood experiences in the dentist’s chair. So when it’s time to take their own children to a dental checkup, parents sometimes struggle to help their kids cope with feelings of fear or resistance.
When Dr. Alexis Meyers opened Steel City Pediatric Dentistry in Sewickley, her goal was to make the experience fun for children and their families.
“I loved my pediatric dentist growing up,” Meyers said. “He made me feel like going to the dentist was not a scary thing. When I got into dental school, we worked on a lot of adults that neglected their mouths for 20 years because they had a really bad experience. So I figured, if we can start with kids and give them a good experience, then maybe they will actually go to the dentist for life.”
With February being National Children’s Dental Health Month, Meyers wants parents to know how important it is to establish regular oral hygiene habits and dental checkups from an early age.
“The American Association of Pediatric Dentistry recommends dental cleanings starting at age 1, or within six months of getting the first tooth,” Meyers said. “We start taking X-rays at 3 years of age because, unfortunately, we do see cavities that early.”
In spite of the growing presence of pediatric dentistry practices opening up across the country, national statistics on children’s dental health are alarming. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than half of children 6 to 8 already have had at least one cavity.
While some children are more genetically prone to cavities than others, there are many steps parents can take to ensure their children’s teeth remain healthy. Going to the dentist is an important part of that process, and the team at Steel City Pediatric Dentistry works hard to create a space that is safe, welcoming and inviting for all children.
“We gear everything toward kids,” Meyers said. “The behavior management training techniques that we use like “Tell-Show-Do” make it easier for us to deal with them. We have a lot of experience handling kids that are scared.”
Meyers said her staff members receive on-the-job training specifically designed to help children understand what is happening and feel comfortable with the procedures and equipment. They explain each step of the process first and let the children examine the tools before they are used.
“We show them on their fingernail first so they can see how it’s going to feel and know that it doesn’t hurt,” said Norri Bayne, an expanded functions dental assistant at Steel City Pediatric Dentistry. “I say, ‘I’m not here to hurt you. I’m going to show you everything.’ ”
Bayne keeps lots of tips and tricks up her sleeve for making the procedures fun for young children. She likes to refer to each tool by a silly name.
“We call the high-speed handpiece for removing cavities Mr. Whistle,” Bayne said. “We have a slow-speed handpiece that we call Mr. Bumpy. The saliva ejector is Mr. Thirsty. The prophy cup is Spinny Tickle Brush. The anesthetic is sleepy juice. Nitrous oxide is ice cream air.”
If you’re wondering about the “ice cream air,” it’s actually laughing gas. It’s an option that Steel City Pediatric Dentistry offers to ease anxiety and discomfort during dental procedures. Nitrous oxide can be used — with parental permission — for routine check-ups, cleanings and minor treatments.
Meyers and her staff work with parents to come up with the best methods for accommodating their children’s needs, whether that is modifying a procedure or rescheduling a treatment for another day when the child feels ready.
“If the chair is scary for somebody, and I can do (the procedure) with them standing, then I’m going to do it with them standing,” Bayne said. “We try plan A, and if that’s not working, we go to plan B. And if that’s still not working, we have a plan C.”
This child-centered approach is cultivated from the moment that patients step in the door. When children arrive, they can play in the waiting room play area until it is their turn to be seen. On the way to the examining room, staff members point out the prize wall and let children know they’ll have an opportunity to pick out a prize at the end of their visit.
Children are given choices throughout the experience, the first of which is to choose their toothpaste flavor. Once they’ve made their selection, they will sit down on the chair, lean back and pick a TV or movie to watch during their cleaning. While they are being entertained, their teeth will be polished and flossed. If they are due for X-rays, those also will be taken.
If the children are feeling nervous, the staff will offer fidget toys to calm them, such as puppets or slinkies. Children also are welcome to sit on their parent’s lap if that makes the experience more manageable for them.
After the cleaning, the child picks a sticker or tattoo while they wait for Meyers to do her examination. She will come out and count their teeth with them in a mirror and then apply the fluoride treatment, if parents desire it. The fluoride, applied with a paintbrush, is a varnish that sticks to the teeth all day. Children can eat or drink immediately after the treatment.
Once Meyers finishes the fluoride application, children can pick a prize and parents can schedule their next appointment.
In between dental visits, it is important to maintain good oral hygiene habits at home. Meyers offered severaltips to promote children’s dental health:
•As soon as teeth are touching, it’s time to start flossing.
•Brush with a fluoride toothpaste as soon as teeth are present.
•For children under the age of three, use a smear of toothpaste the size of a grain of rice. For children between the ages of three and six, use a pea-sized amount.
•For older children wearing braces or expanders, use a water pick or water flosser for rinsing between the spaces.
•Flossing every night is ideal. At a minimum, floss every other night.
•Brush teeth twice a day for two minutes.
•Be mindful of what candy your children are eating. Chocolate is better than sticky candy because it melts away. Sticky candies and gummies should be avoided since they stick your teeth.
•If children have crowns or spacers, they should not consume sticky candy, since the candy can actually pull off the caps and bands.
•Rinsing your mouth with water after eating candy can help to remove residue in between brushings.
For more dental hygiene tips or to schedule an appointment with Meyers, visit steelcitypediatricdentistry.com.