Kid's Dentist

We provide high-quality, affordable dental care in Washington DC. A child’s first dental check-up should take place when their first tooth emerges or by their first birthday, whichever comes first. Starting healthy oral care habits early in life sets your child up for success. We pride ourselves on being a caring kid's dentist.

During dental cleanings, special tools and skills are used to remove plaque from the spots that are hard to reach when brushing at home. The hygienist checks for early signs of tooth decay so that it can be treated before it becomes a problem. Children who are at a higher risk of tooth decay can benefit from fluoride treatments and sealants that will protect and maintain the strength of their teeth.

Dental x-rays are important tools that dentists use to monitor the development and potential diseases or decay that can impact your child’s oral health. Dental x-rays provide insight into areas of the teeth that are invisible during regular dental cleanings.

Your mouth needs fluoride! Fluoride is a natural mineral that helps keep teeth strong and protected from decay. We administer a concentrated fluoride varnish directly onto tooth/teeth surfaces that need protection. Fluoride treatments are highly beneficial throughout a child’s life.

The most basic form of tooth decay is cavities, especially in toddlers and children. A cavity forms when a buildup of plaque eats at the tooth enamel and creates a hole in the tooth. Sometimes cavities are hard to prevent, but proper dental hygiene, diet, and regular dental visits are the best defense. When a cavity is detected, the dentist will remove the decay and fill in the hold with a filling.

Dental sealants provide additional protection against harmful bacteria that can cause tooth decay. Even with excellent oral hygiene, the grooves on the tops of the molars are susceptible to collections of food and bacteria. Dental sealants provide an extra layer of protection and are an important part of dental care.

Dental crowns restore a damaged tooth to its correct size and shape. Dental crowns are necessary when a filling is not adequate to restore a tooth that is decayed or compromised. Dental crowns are applied during a single appointment and do require an anesthetic.

Sometimes teeth need to be extracted. A tooth may need to be pulled if it is extensively damaged or decayed, in preparation for orthodontic treatment, or if it is a baby tooth that needs a little help coming out.

Our goal with every dental procedure is to keep kids calm and comfortable and minimize potential distress. That’s why we give kids dental sedation. Select locations offer dental sedation options, and a referral is required.

It’s possible that a healthy, active kid might accidentally chip or break a tooth. Thankfully, we have ways to fix them! If your child has a broken tooth, it is important to contact your dentist right away. The dentist will examine the child, and in some cases, the tooth fragment can be reattached. If you are able to locate the chipped tooth fragment, put it in a bag with saline or water and bring it with you to the dentist's office. If you can’t find the tooth fragment, there are other ways to repair the tooth.

Good news! Medicaid and most dental insurance plans cover two dental cleanings and checkups per year. Regular visits are important for maintaining oral health. Book an appointment with us for your child today and come on in and meet your kid's dentist!

Orthodontic braces are beneficial because they correct jaw alignment and teeth spacing. The benefits of braces can increase your child or teen’s confidence and self-esteem, in addition to improving many aspects of dental health, including:

• Improve ability to chew food
• Alleviate speech impairment
• Make brushing, cleaning, and flossing teeth easier
• Reduce the risk of cavities and periodontal disease
• Reduce the occurrence of grinding and chipping teeth
• Reduce the risk of injury from protruding teeth

For many people, braces are an important part of oral health!

There are several different types of braces that are commonly used today. It is important to choose the right type of braces based on your treatment plan, cost, and desired appearance. We can help you decide!

• Traditional Metal Braces are the most common type of braces. They are affordable and highly effective. Metal braces are easy to accurately adjust during monthly visits, and kids and teens get to choose fun elastic band colors!

• Ceramic or Porcelain Braces are similar to metal braces, but the brackets and wires are designed to blend in with your kid or teen’s teeth. These braces are more expensive than metal braces, and they require dedicated, regular cleaning to prevent discoloration. If you want your braces to be less noticeable, ceramic or porcelain braces are a great option.

• Removable Aligners have become increasingly popular. Removable aligners are transparent trays that rest on top of teeth and need to be removed for meal times and other activities. Removable aligners are more expensive than metal braces, and the treatment requires a level of personal responsibility. Not every kid is up to the task! Removable aligners are not designed to correct significant bite problems, but if you are looking for a less noticeable way to correct alignment issues, this solution may be the right treatment option for you.

Medicaid and many other insurance plans acknowledge the importance of braces for oral health and may cover the full cost of orthodontic treatment. If you have Medicaid, your child needs an orthodontic evaluation to determine whether or not the treatment is covered. If you have private insurance, you can learn about your orthodontic coverage options by contacting your insurance provider.

If you do not have insurance coverage, we offer multiple affordable payment plans. Our orthodontic care coordinators can review these options and assist you in determining a plan that works for your family.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children are screened by age seven. By age seven, it will be clear if a child has any jaw alignment problems, overcrowding, overbite or underbite, crossbite, or other orthodontic issues that may impact their mouth. It is important to receive an orthodontic evaluation early so that we can quickly determine if braces are needed, and if so, choose the best treatment plan.