Pediatric Dentistry
First Visit: “Happy Visit”
We want your child’s first visit to feel like the dentist’s office is a place of comfort and fun, not a place of anxiety. That’s why we call it your “happy visit.”
You and your child will be in our special room for first time patients designed to make your little one at ease. We will create a hygiene program and diet to reduce their risk of dental disease and set them up for long-term dental success.
When should you bring your child to their happy visit? The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children visit a dentist before their first birthday or when their first tooth appears – whichever happens first – so those brand-new teeth have proper care from the start.
Continuing Care
No two children’s dental care needs are the same. Some children require minimal intervention, only needing to be evaluated every 6 months with x-rays every 18-24 months. Other children have higher risk for cavities, needing more frequent services. Aside from this tailored professional care, we educate each patient and parent on proper oral hygiene and nutrition during every visit.
Dental Procedures & General Anesthesia
While prevention is the ultimate goal at our pediatric dentistry practice, we know there are times when dental procedures optimize oral wellbeing. We take a conservative approach and aim for the least invasive option available.
As a parent, Dr. Dharmini understands the difficulty of choosing sedation for your child’s treatment. We try our best to avoid sedation, but sometimes a patient is too young or apprehensive –or the required treatment is invasive and makes traditional dental chairtreatment difficult or impossible. To ensure your child is safe and the treatment exceeds the standard of care, general anesthesia may be necessary.
Dr. Dharmini has privileges at Legacy Emanuel Hospital and is undergoing credentialing for Kaiser hospitals. We also partner with Dr. Allred of Portland Dental Anesthesia to provide sedation care at our office for maximum comfort in a friendly environment.
Special Needs Children
Young patients with more challenging treatment needs – perhaps behavioral, orthodontic, or restorative – often have few practitioners capable of addressing those needs. Not at Evergreen. Dr. Dharmini has received advanced training in treating special needs patients ranging from mild ADHD to severe autism, as well as children born with congenital defects or syndromes like cleft lip and palate.