Happy Visits for Kids

A happy visit is recommended for children 3 and up.  This is their first visit to the office.  The child will take a ride in our chair, meet "Mr. Thirsty" (our suction) and we can "count" their teeth.  Sometimes it is best to plan this visit when one of the parents or older siblings are in for an appointment.  This way, they can watch and then take a turn in the chair.  It is a much more positive first experience then having any work done right away.  We also take this opportunity for the child to meet the dentist, and that way he can complete an orthodontic assessment, and check for any problems.  Occasionally, the happy visit goes so well, that we can do the cleaning at that appointment.  They usually leave with a bag of goodies - new toothbrush, stickers, toys, and a glove balloon!  Most of the time, this works great, but if it doesn't work out the first time, we rebook for another time in a few months.  There is no charge for this appointment.
Please also read our printable article on First Time Visits

Digital X-Rays

Dental x-rays, also known as dental radiographs, are pictures of the internal structure of your teeth and bones. X-rays are a form of energy that travels in waves. When these waves travel through solid objects, the object either absorbs the waves or they pass through the object. Your teeth and bones are dense, so they absorb x-rays. Your gums are less dense, so x-rays continue to pass through. As a result, these pictures allow your dentist to see
if you have any problems below the surface of your teeth and gums.
Mount Joy Dental uses a digital x-ray system.  This allows us to use 80-90% less radiation then conventional x-rays.  X-rays are only ordered if needed and are very safe.  Before taking any x-rays, a lead apron is placed on our patient which will provide protection from the very little amount of radiation produced.  We generally recommend bitewing x-rays (cavity detecting) every 2 years and a panoramic (all over x-ray) every 4-6 years.

Preventative Care

Preventative care is the most important type of care that your child will receive.  Children should be seen twice a year by their dentist and/or dental hygienist.  Regular visits to our office will ensure potential problems are detected before they occur.   At each visit, in addition to regular cleaning and wellness checks, we check for adequate spacing, decay, speech difficulties, mouth breathing,  thumb sucking and daytime or night time tooth grinding.  As your child gets older we will asses diet and nutrition with relation to the teeth, discuss the dangers of smoking, review the need for regular home care and complete an orthodontic assessment.
Dental Sealants are an excellent method of preventing decay from beginning on chewing surfaces of molar teeth in young children.
We will always focus on oral hygiene instruction with the child, and discuss the need for x-rays, fluoride and dental sealants with parents as needed.
To learn more about your child's teeth and facial development, please read our article on the Growth and Development of the Teeth and Face.

Sedation Dentistry

Although we do our best to ensure children's comfort and understanding of what will happen during their appointment, sometimes it is necessary to use a form of sedation to relieve the initial anxiety of first appointments and procedures. We can offer different types of sedation depending on your child's needs and the type of procedure.  One type of sedation commonly used for children is Nitrous Oxide sedation, commonly referred to as "laughing gas"   This sedation has an immediate onset, and an immediate recovery.  A nose mask will be placed on the child's nose and they will inhale the nitrous.   This will instantly relax the child and make the appointment more comfortable for them.  When a heavier sedation is required, the child/teen can be given an oral sedative in a liquid or pill form.  This is used when a heavier sedation is required.  This type of sedation requires the child to come in for their appointment early so we can administer the sedation before the appointment begins.

Orthodontics

Orthodontic correction is sometimes required due to bite issues or misaligned teeth.   It is very important to have you and your child's orthodontic evaluation - Orthodontic treatment can correct many problems other than just crooked teeth.  Bite issues can cause jaw soreness or TMJ (Jaw joint) disorders.  Having an incorrect bite can cause unbalanced wear on your teeth as well as possible speech problems.  Crowded or misaligned teeth can also increase your risk of dental caries (cavities) and periodontal (gum) disease which can ultimately lead to the loss of teeth.

At Mount Joy Dental, we provide orthodontic evaluations and services to allow for optimal dentofacial development of your child, and broad, beautiful smiles for life. It is important to assess the development of your child's teeth early, so that corrective procedures and aids can have their greatest potential for success. We offer traditional metal braces, new clear braces that are much less noticeable, retainers, and other orthodontic aids.

For more information, please see our printable article on The Growth and Development of the Teeth and Face.

Emergency Care

Kids will be kids, and unfortunately accidents do happen. Most dental emergencies for kids involve chipped, broken or missing teeth, but can also include toothaches, bleeding gums, and jaw injuries. If your child has had an accident and needs to see a dentist right away, Mount Joy Dental is committed to providing our clients with immediate treatment of these situations. Our appointment schedule reserves time each working day for emergency appointments, and Dr. Chari and Dr. Saggar are available after hours through our voicemail system
Please also see our article on Emergency Dentistry for more information.