At Hendricks Pediatric Dentistry, we invest in cutting-edge dental technology to enhance patient experience and outcomes. Our state-of-the-art equipment allows us to provide precise, efficient, and minimally invasive treatments for a variety of dental concerns. Embracing advanced technology is part of our commitment to offering the highest standards of care to our young patients and their families.

• Solea Dental Laser: We are one of the few pediatric dentistry offices within 100 miles equipped with Solea Dental Laser technology. Solea lasers provide a nearly painless experience, minimizing the need for needles and anesthesia in many procedures. This revolutionary technology helps us to make your child's dental experience as comfortable and anxiety-free as possible.

• • • Benefits of Laser Dentistry: Laser dentistry offers multiple advantages, including quicker recovery times, reduced need for anesthesia, and less post-operative discomfort. It also minimizes the risk of infection by sterilizing the area during treatment. With laser dentistry, your child can experience a more comfortable and effective dental procedure.
    • What Makes Solea Laser Dentistry Painless? Solea lasers utilize a unique wavelength that can vaporize both hard and soft tissues without causing significant discomfort. The technology minimizes vibrations and heat, often eliminating the need for needles or anesthesia. It’s a game-changer for pediatric dentistry, making procedures quicker and virtually painless for your child.
    • Advantages of Laser Dentistry: Beyond comfort and efficiency, laser dentistry offers excellent precision, reducing damage to surrounding tissues. The technology also promotes better healing and less swelling post-procedure. In a nutshell, laser dentistry ensures a more pleasant experience from start to finish.

• Digital Radiography (X-Rays): We employ digital radiography, a safer and more efficient alternative to traditional X-rays. Digital X-rays use a significantly lower amount of radiation and produce high-quality images instantly, allowing for quicker diagnosis and treatment planning.

• • Is a Digital X-Ray Really Safer? Yes, digital X-rays expose patients to up to 90% less radiation compared to traditional methods. In addition to being safer, digital radiography is faster and more comfortable, making it ideal for pediatric dental care.

What Are the Advantages of Digital X-Rays? Digital X-rays are not only safer but also more convenient and versatile. The images can be easily stored, transmitted, and manipulated for better diagnostic accuracy. This technology streamlines the treatment process, allowing us to focus on providing the best possible care for your child.

• Crowns: We offer a variety of crown options, including Stainless Steel, Composite Resin, and Zirconia, to suit different needs and preferences. Our team is skilled in selecting and placing the most appropriate type of crown to restore your child’s smile effectively.
• Stainless Steel: Stainless steel crowns are durable and cost-effective, commonly used for molar restorations. They are especially useful in pediatric dentistry due to their long-lasting nature, quick placement, and proven track record.
• Composite Resin: Composite resin crowns offer a more natural appearance and are best suited for front teeth. They blend seamlessly with your child’s natural teeth, providing both functionality and aesthetics.
• Zirconia: Zirconia crowns combine strength and a natural appearance, offering the best of both worlds. These crowns are biocompatible and highly resistant to chipping or cracking.
• Fillings: We provide both Composite (tooth-colored) Fillings and Resin Modified Glass Ionomer to treat cavities effectively. Our team will recommend the most suitable option based on your child’s specific needs.
• Pulp Treatment: Pulp treatments, including Pulpotomy and Pulpectomy, are performed to preserve a tooth in which the decay has reached the nerve. These treatments help to eliminate infection and prevent the need for extraction. By avoiding extractions, the baby tooth maintains the space needed for the adult tooth to erupt when that time arrives.
• Lesion Sterilization and Tissue Repair: We offer lesion sterilization and tissue repair as an alternative to extractions when a tooth is no longer vital. Utilizing current research and clinical success in the area we are able to save many teeth that previously would have needed to be extracted.
• Tooth Extractions: In cases where tooth extraction is necessary, our skilled team ensures that the process is as comfortable and stress-free as possible. We provide comprehensive aftercare instructions to promote smooth healing.
• Non-Invasive Cavity Treatment: Our non-invasive cavity treatments, such as Silver Diamine Fluoride and ICON Resin Infiltration, offer effective solutions without the need for drilling or anesthesia. SDFtreatments are particularly beneficial for younger children or those with dental anxiety. SDF can be used on small cavities in between the teeth or on children who are unable to cooperate for a standard filling. ICON is an excellent option for teeth with enamel hypoplasia as well as white spot lesions after orthodontics.

• Dental Exam: Regular dental exams are crucial for maintaining optimal oral health. At Hendricks Pediatric Dentistry, we conduct comprehensive evaluations to prevent problems before they start, offering you peace of mind and a lifetime of beautiful smiles for your child.

• • • Regular Exams and Cleanings: Routine visits for exams and cleanings are the cornerstone of preventive dental care. These appointments allow us to identify issues early and to provide targeted interventions to ensure optimal oral health.
    • Preventing Problems Before They Start: Early detection is key. By addressing dental issues before they escalate, we minimize discomfort, avoid extensive treatments, and ultimately save you time and money.

• Dental Cleaning/Prophylaxis: Also known as "prophy," our professional cleanings are specifically designed for children. The goal is to provide a gentle yet thorough cleaning, focusing on areas that are often missed during regular brushing at home.

• Is Kids’ Dental Cleaning Necessary? Absolutely. Regular cleanings are essential for the promotion of oral health and can lead to cost savings in the long run by preventing more severe dental issues.

• • What Does Kids’ Prophylaxis Involve? Each session involves a comprehensive dental evaluation, potential X-ray imaging following the ALARA principle, thorough cleaning, fluoride treatment, and optional dental sealants if adult molars have erupted.
    • TMJ and Pathology Screening: We include a TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) and oral pathology screening as a part of our routine dental exams to ensure that all aspects of your child’s oral health are assessed.
    • X-Ray Imaging: We adhere to the ALARA principle—As Low As Reasonably Achievable—when it comes to X-ray imaging. This means we only take radiographs when absolutely necessary for the diagnostic process, ensuring minimal exposure to radiation for your child.
    • A thorough cleaning: Our skilled hygienists perform a comprehensive cleaning to remove plaque and tartar buildup. This meticulous cleaning not only brightens your child's smile but also sets the stage for long-term oral health.
    • Fluoride Treatment: After cleaning, we apply a fluoride treatment to strengthen the enamel and provide an additional layer of defense against cavities. It's a quick, painless process that pays dividends in dental health.
    • Optional Dental Sealant: If your child's adult molars have erupted, we offer the option of applying dental sealants. This thin, protective coating aids in preventing food particles and bacteria from infiltrating the deep grooves of molars, reducing the risk of cavities.
    • Oral Care Guidelines: Finally, we arm you and your child with personalized oral care guidelines. These practical tips and recommendations empower you to maintain a clean and healthy mouth between visits.
  • What Can I Expect from a Dental Cleaning? When you bring your child in for a dental cleaning, you can expect a thorough and comprehensive experience designed to enhance oral health. The visit starts with a warm welcome followed by a quick review of your child's medical and dental history. We then proceed with X-ray imaging, if necessary, adhering to the ALARA principle for minimized radiation exposure.

Our dental hygienists perform a detailed cleaning that includes plaque and tartar removal, polishing, and flossing between the teeth. This is followed by a fluoride treatment to fortify tooth enamel, making it more resilient to decay. If applicable, we also offer the application of dental sealants for added protection against cavities.

The visit concludes with a review of personalized oral care guidelines. We'll walk you through the best practices for at-home dental care, ensuring you and your child leave with all the information needed to maintain a healthy smile.

• Fluoride Varnish Treatments: We offer fluoride varnish treatments to strengthen enamel and help fend off tooth decay. It’s a quick, painless process that can have long-lasting benefits.

• Dental Sealant: As a preventive measure, we offer dental sealants to protect your child's teeth from decay, particularly the grooves and depressions in the molars and premolars.

• Oral Cancer Screening: Though rare in children, we take the precaution of conducting oral cancer screenings to ensure the comprehensive health of your child.

• Mouth Guards:  Whether your child is an athlete or a night-time teeth grinder, we offer customized mouth guards to protect their teeth and jaw.

• Space Maintainers: If your child loses a baby tooth too early, we offer different types of space maintainers like the Band and Loop, Lower Lingual Arch, and the Nance Appliance to keep the space open for the permanent tooth.

• • Caring for Your Child’s Space Maintainer: We provide comprehensive guidelines on how to care for the space maintainer, ensuring it serves its purpose effectively until the adult tooth comes in.

By providing a comprehensive range of services, our aim is to offer a one-stop solution for all your child's dental needs. Trust us to take care of your child's dental health from their first tooth to their last.

For children experiencing issues related to tongue and lip ties we complete a comprehensive oral evaluation to diagnose the ties. If a release is indicated, we use advanced laser technology to fully release the ties in a quick, precise, and sedation-free procedure.  Effective treatment has been proved to enhance feeding, speech, sleep, and overall oral health.

• Lingual (tongue) Frenectomy: A lingual frenectomy is a quick and effective procedure to correct tongue-ties. Utilizing state-of-the-art laser technology, we can release the restrictive tongue-tie, improving your child’s ability to eat, speak and breathe more easily.
• Labial (lip) Frenectomy: For children with a restrictive lip tie, we offer a labial frenectomy procedure. This minimally invasive treatment is done using our advanced laser technology, resulting in quick healing and minimal discomfort.

• Safe Sedation: We understand that dental procedures can be nerve-wracking, especially for children. That's why we prioritize safety and comfort when it comes to sedation dentistry. While we provide an introductory talk about the process, a board-certified anesthesiologist will give an in-depth discussion about general anesthesia if this option is needed.
  • What is Sedation Dentistry? Sedation dentistry employs various medications to help patients relax during dental procedures. It is especially useful for younger patients or those with dental anxiety to ensure a comfortable and stress-free experience.

In case of dental emergencies, it's essential to know you have a dental home you can trust for immediate, efficient, and compassionate care.

• Emergency Contact Information: Should you experience a true dental emergency outside of office hours, please contact Dr. Dan directly through the cell phone number provided to you during your visit.
• Types of Dental Emergencies

• • • Loose Tooth: Although this can sometimes be worrisome, this is a natural process and as long as it is a baby tooth, keep on wiggling! 
    • Bitten Lip or Tongue: Wash the area and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling.
    • Fractured-Chipped Tooth:
      • Baby Tooth: Send Dr. Dan a picture. Typically a chipped baby tooth will be smoothed out, but does not require immediate evaluation.
      • Permanent Tooth: Save the chipped piece if possible and call us right away. 

• Knocked Out Tooth:

• • • • Baby Tooth: Unlike with permanent teeth, we don't re-implant baby teeth as this can create further problems with the adult teeth in the future..
      • Permanent Tooth: Time is critical. If possible, place the tooth back in the socket and seek immediate care.
    • Pain Relief-Toothache: Over-the-counter Tylenol and Ibuprofen can be used for temporary relief, but contact the office to be evaluated.
    • Broken Jaw: Head straight to the Emergency Department for immediate medical care.
    • Severe Blow to the Head: This is a medical emergency requiring immediate attention at the Emergency Department.

• Avoiding Injury

• • Safety is the best policy. Exercise caution during physical activities, and always wear a mouthguard when playing sports to prevent dental injuries.