Livingston Pediatric Dental Associates
What Makes Us Unique
We Are Specialists
A Pediatric Dentist is a dental specialist who is dedicated to the oral health of children from infancy though the teenage years. The very young, preteens and teenagers each require different approaches in dealing with their behavior, guiding their dental growth and development, and helping them avoid future dental problems. A Pediatric Dentist is best qualified to meet these needs. A Pediatric Dentist has two additional years of training following dental school in order to provide the most up to date and thorough treatment for a wide variety of children’s dental problems. We are deeply committed to the total health and well being of your child and to the ideals of preventive dentistry.
Kid Friendly Environment
Our office is decorated in a cheerful and fun style that young children find comforting. While waiting for their visit, children can play with various toys and games in our playroom. Our Tooth Fairy ‘speaks’ to the children with special messages after their dental visit. Her comments vary from child to child and include topics such as thumb sucking, nutrition and lost teeth due to dental decay.
Baby's First Visit
We are committed to the belief that children should have a dental home by the age of one. We urge you to contact our office to set up your baby’s first visit. This is a complimentary consultation with one of our staff members. At this visit, you will meet with one of our highly trained dental hygienists who have been counseled in infant dental health education. This is not a visit with a doctor or an examination, but rather an informative visit designed to acquaint you with our office and provide general information for the well-being of your baby. This visit and service is designed for children up to two years of age. Call today to schedule your visit on a convenient Monday or Tuesday morning.
Technology
Our digital radiography (X-rays) technology minimizes the child’s exposure in comparison to conventional X-ray equipment. The images are enlarged and viewed on our computer monitors and shared with the children and their parents. Children love looking at their X-rays and upon request; we print them out so they can share them with others.
We utilize a patient appointment system which will keep you informed of upcoming visits. Appointment reminders can be received via text messages and/or emails. Personal phone calls are also available if you should decide to opt out of email and text notification.
Communication
We strive to answer all questions regarding your child’s dental care. If you have any questions, we are available to speak with you. If questions arise once you leave the office, please feel free to contact us.
Treatment Options
The majority of children who require dental procedures are easily treated in our office. We offer nitrous oxide (laughing gas) for the comfort of your child. Some patients require pharmacologic aides in order to complete their dental treatment. Options include conscious sedation in the office, IV sedation in our office by a licensed dental anesthesiologist, or dental treatment done as an outpatient in a local hospital.
Prevention
Our number one priority is prevention. We encourage early visits and recommend that your child has his/her first dental visit as soon as their first tooth erupts so that we may educate you on proper oral health. Our commitment to prevention continues throughout the child’s entire life. We suggest our orthodontic patients be seen every three months for cleaning while in braces. We advocate placement of sealants as well as topical fluoride treatments. Our fluoride is a varnish which is ‘painted’ on the teeth. This varnish eliminates the need for bulky trays in the mouth and allows children to eat/drink immediately following the procedure. The fluoride varnish has been proven to deliver a higher concentration of fluoride due to longer contact on the teeth.
Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF)
SDF is an FDA approved antibacterial liquid that is able to arrest cavities.The silver component is an antimicrobial agent that kills the bacteria and strengthens the underlying protective layer of your child’s teeth. The fluoride component helps stop tooth decay and helps prevent additional decay.
Advantages:
SDF has low toxicity and is safe and effective. The application of SDF is painless, non-invasive and affordable. SDF is extremely beneficial for very young children who may have difficulty cooperating for treatment, and those special needs patients who may not be able to tolerate dental procedures. It also allows us to stop the tooth decay process while the child matures and operative procedures are able to be completed without sedation.
Disadvantages:
Any decayed tooth structure treated with SDF will turn black. This is an indication that the decay in the tooth is arresting. These teeth can later be restored with tooth colored fillings to mask the black stain. If SDF comes in contact with skin or gums (which does occur from time to time) a temporary discoloration occurs. The patient may experience a temporary metallic taste after the application of SDF. The best prevention is with multiple applications, once or twice a year. While an excellent treatment option, SDF may only be used in certain situations. Your insurance provider is unlikely to cover the cost of it. Fortunately, SDF is inexpensive, probably more affordable than the traditional cavity treatment even after insurance coverage.
For more information: http://www.elevateoralcare.com/site/images/SDF-Duffin.pdf
Store-A-Tooth ™
We partner with Store-A-Tooth™ in the cryopreservation of stem cells from deciduous (baby) teeth or permanent teeth through the use of healthy dental pulp. To learn more about how you can secure your family’s future health by banking their stem cells, call our office today or visit www.store-a-tooth.com for more information.
Community Involvement
One of our most important responsibilities is to educate children and their parents about the importance of good dental health habits. Visiting children at the preschool level has been shown to be very beneficial. Our presentation will cover what to expect on a first dental visit, brushing and flossing and nutrition. A short cartoon video might also be shown. Our office has developed an outreach education program that is fun, educational and informative that will educate preschoolers on the importance of good dental health and will minimize any fears the child might have about visiting the dentist. Our office is currently scheduling complimentary dental health presentations at preschools as well as visits to our office. Contact Cheryl or Tracy at (973) 992-5555 or livingstonpediatricdental@gmail.com to arrange a dental health program for your school.
