Locations

When you walk into our beautifully decorated office, full of kid-friendly furniture, games, books, and toys, you and your child will feel at home. Your child is welcome to enjoy Disney movies and video games while they wait, or climb in the tree house. Parents are free to sit back, relax, enjoy a cup of coffee or connect to the internet via our free Wi-Fi. Our friendly doctors and staff are trained to work with you and your child to form a special bond that will last throughout their years. We are always willing to answer all of your questions while we monitor your child’s growth and development. We will accentuate the importance of good oral health, treat their dental challenges, and provide a trusted place in times of dental emergencies.

Your child’s first visit by one-year-old will allow us to begin this special relationship by introducing them to our dental team and discussing with you proper infant oral health. We will start early to teach you and your child the lifelong dental habits you need to prevent tooth decay and maintain a healthy mouth.

EARLY DENTAL CARE

Although the primary teeth aren't permanent, they still play a vital role in your child's development and need to be cared for accordingly - primary teeth help your child learn proper chewing, swallowing, and speaking habits, and also help with jaw development and guide the permanent teeth into place around age 6.
Accordingly, babies who prematurely lose teeth or have missing teeth may require a space maintainer to hold space for the permanent tooth. Without proper space maintenance, tooth alignment can be an issue for the eruption of the permanent teeth. Another important aspect of the primary teeth is that in caring for them, your child learns proper oral hygiene habits. Forming these habits early on significantly lowers your child's chance for dental problems later on.

MINIMALLY INVASIVE TREATMENT

ICON

Icon treatment is a new way our pediatric dentists can help stop the progression of an early cavity and help smiles last longer. Cavities are the result of acids in your mouth. These acids suck the calcium out of a tooth and deteriorate teeth. Icon flows into the tiny pores in tooth enamel then fills and reinforces that enamel. This stops the outer progression of the cavity.

Some of the main advantages for kids receiving early dental care with Icon treatment include:

  • Preserving Healthy Tooth Structure - By treating small early cavities before they have a chance to develop, it eliminates the need for drilling away tooth decay. This leaves more healthy tooth structure intact.
  • Improved Lifespan Of Teeth - Icon treatment prevents cavities from advancing on to later stages, meaning your child’s teeth don’t suffer as much damage as they would have. As a result, they have a smile that will last much longer.
  • Pain Free - Icon treatment does not require a numbing procedure, since it is simple, fast, and comfortable.

SILVER DIAMINE FLOURIDE

A new, painless, safe, fast, and affordable way to treat cavities.

What is SDF?

  • SDF is a clear liquid that, when painted onto a cavity, kills bacteria and hardens the remaining tooth to prevent the cavity from growing.

Painless

  • No shots of local anesthetic required
  • No drilling
  • 1-2 minute procedure (similar to applying fluoride varnish)

Safe

  • Approved by FDA for use in the US in 2014 and has been used by other countries for more than 80 years without a single adverse event being recorded.
  • Contraindications: Patients with silver allergy or active ulcerations in mouth
  • Risks: Can cause temporary gum irritation and reversible staining of soft tissue

FINANCIAL & INSURANCE

Our APDO business staff will work with you to develop a financial plan for the orthodontic treatment you need that will fit within your budget. We can set up automatic deductions from your credit card or bank account.

  • APDO works with most major insurance companies. You are responsible for informing us of any changes to your insurance coverage. Our staff will file claims on your behalf and work with your insurance company to make sure that you and your children are receiving the maximum benefits allowed by your insurance company.
  • Health Savings or Flex Spending Account. If you utilize one of these specialized health accounts, we will work with you to access those funds and follow the guidelines they require.
  • No-Interest Financing. In some instances, APDO is able to finance your orthodontic treatment and will work with you to set up a plan and payment schedule that can work within your budget.
  • Up-Front Discounts. We offer a discount for patients who are able to pay in full at the beginning of their braces or Invisalign treatment.
  • Credit Cards. APDO accepts all major credit cards for payment of orthodontics.
  • Cash/Checks. Of course, APDO will gladly accept your cash, check or money order.

Convenient Online Payments Available

PEDIATRIC FAQ

Why should my child see a pediatric dentist instead of our regular family dentist?

Pediatric dentistry is a dental specialty that focuses on the oral health of young people. Following dental school, a pediatric dentist has two to three years additional specialty training in the unique needs of infants, children and adolescents, including those with special health needs.

How should I clean my baby's teeth?

A toothbrush with soft bristles and a small head, especially one designed for infants, is the best choice for infants. Brushing at least once a day, at bedtime, will remove plaque bacteria that can lead to decay.

At what age should my child have his/her first dental visit?

"First visit by first birthday" is the general rule. To prevent dental problems, your child should see a pediatric dentist when the first tooth appears, usually between 6 and 12 months of age, certainly no later than his/her first birthday.

What is baby bottle tooth decay and how can I prevent it?

Baby bottle tooth decay is a pattern of rapid decay associated with prolonged nursing. It happens when a child goes to sleep while breast-feeding and/or bottle-feeding. During sleep, the flow of saliva is reduced and the natural self-cleansing action of the mouth is diminished. Avoid nursing children to sleep or putting anything other than water in their bedtime bottle. Encourage your child to drink from a cup as they approach their first birthday. He/she should be weaned from the bottle at 12–14 months of age.

Can thumbsucking be harmful for my child's teeth?

Thumb and pacifier sucking habits that go on for a long period of time can create crowded, crooked teeth or bite problems. If they are still sucking their thumbs or fingers when the permanent teeth arrive, a mouth appliance may be recommended by your pediatric dentist. Most children stop these habits on their own.

What are dental sealants and how do they work?

Sealants are clear or shaded plastic applied to the teeth to help keep them cavity-free. Sealants fill in the grooved and pitted surfaces of the teeth, which are hard to clean, and shut out food particles that could get caught, causing cavities. Fast and comfortable to apply, sealants can effectively protect teeth for many years.

When should my child start using toothpaste?

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends you clean your child's teeth with water and a soft bristled toothbrush up to age 1. After 1 year of age, parents may use a small smear of fluoridated toothpaste on a soft bristled toothbrush to clean their child's teeth. A pea-sized amount of toothpaste may be used after age 2 and parents should supervise brushing to ensure children do not swallow excess toothpaste. See photos under the oral hygiene category.

If my child gets a toothache, what should I do?

To comfort your child, rinse his/her mouth with warm salt water and apply a cold compress or ice wrapped in a cloth on your child's face if it is swollen. Do not put heat or aspirin on the sore area, but you may give the child acetaminophen for pain. See us as soon as possible.

Is my child getting enough fluoride?

Fluoride has been shown to dramatically decrease a person's chances of getting cavities by making teeth stronger. Fluoride in the drinking water is the best and easiest way to get it, but to make sure your child is getting enough fluoride, have your pediatric dentist evaluate the fluoride level of your child's primary source of water. If your child is not getting enough fluoride internally through water (especially in communities where the water district does not fluoridate the water or if your child drinks bottled water without fluoride), your pediatric dentist may prescribe fluoride supplements.

How safe are dental X-rays?

With contemporary safeguards, such as lead aprons and high-speed film, the amount of radiation received in a dental X-ray examination is extremely small. Even though there is very little risk, pediatric dentists are particularly careful to minimize the exposure of child patients to radiation. In fact, dental X-rays represent a far smaller risk than an undetected and untreated dental problem.

My child plays sports. How should I protect my child's teeth?

A mouth guard should be a top priority on your child's list of sports equipment. Athletic mouth protectors, or mouth guards, are made of soft plastic and fit comfortably to the shape of the upper teeth. They protect a child's teeth, lips, cheeks and gums from sports-related injuries. Any mouth guard works better than no mouth guard, but a custom-fitted mouth guard fitted by our doctor is your child's best protection against sports-related injuries.

When do the first teeth start to erupt?

At about 6 months, the two lower front teeth (central incisors) will erupt, followed shortly by the two upper central incisors. The remainder of the baby teeth appear during the next 18 to 24 months but not necessarily in an orderly sequence from front to back. At 2 to 3 years, all of these 20 primary teeth should be present.

What should I do if my child knocks out a permanent tooth?

First of all, remain calm. If possible, find the tooth and hold it by the crown rather than the root. Replace the tooth in the socket and hold it there with clean gauze or a washcloth. If you can't put the tooth back in the socket, place the tooth in a clean container with milk and take your child and the glass immediately to the pediatric dentist. The faster you act, the better your chances of saving the tooth.

How can I help my child through the teething stage?

Sore gums when teeth erupt are part of the normal eruption process. The discomfort is eased for some children by use of a teething biscuit, a piece of toast or a frozen teething ring. Your pharmacy should also have medications that can be rubbed on the gums to reduce the discomfort.

I noticed a space between my child's two upper front teeth. Is this cause for concern?

Usually, the space will close in the next few years as the other front teeth erupt. We can determine whether there is cause for concern.

If my child gets a cavity in a baby tooth, should it still be filled?

Primary, or "baby," teeth are important for many reasons. Not only do they help children speak clearly and chew naturally, they also aid in forming a path that permanent teeth can follow when they are ready to erupt. Some of them are necessary until a child is 12 years old or longer. Pain, infection of the gums and jaws, impairment of general health and premature loss of teeth are just a few of the problems that can happen when baby teeth are neglected. Also, because tooth decay is really an infection and will spread, decay on baby teeth can cause decay on permanent teeth. Proper care of baby teeth is instrumental in enhancing the health of your child.

What causes tooth decay?

Four things are necessary for cavities to form — a tooth, bacteria, sugars or other carbohydrates and time. Dental plaque is a thin, sticky, colorless deposit of bacteria that constantly forms on everyone's teeth. When you eat, the sugars in your food cause the bacteria in plaque to produce acids that attack the tooth enamel. With time and repeated acid attacks, the enamel breaks down and a cavity forms.

© 2024. All rights reserved. | Affiliated Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics • AZ Specialty Dental Services, LLC - Jeffrey Burg, DDS | Hosted by Specialty Dental Brands™.

crossmenu linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram