•Infant Oral Health Program, (Birth to 3 years of age) •Preventative Dentistry -Sealants -Fluorides -Interceptive Orthodonics -Oral Habits -Baby Bottle Tooth Decay -Recall Program   -Good foods and snacks to eat for you and your teeth   -Foods to Avoid •Hospital Dentistry •Sedation •Infection Control Infant Oral Health Program (Birth to 3 years of age)

Historically, parents have been advised to take their children to the dentist for their first visit around 3 years of age. Unfortunately, tooth decay does occur in children under the age of 3. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that an initial oral evaluation visit occur within six months of the eruption of the first primary tooth and no later than twelve months of age. During this important visit we will complete a thorough medical and dental history, complete a thorough oral examination, assess your child's risk of developing oral and dental disease, and develop an appropriate protocol to reduce your child's risk of developing dental disease. The major cause of tooth decay in infants is improper use of the milk bottle. Children remaining on the bottle past the age of 14 months realize a significant risk of developing tooth decay before the age of 3 years when compared to children who are no longer bottle feeding past 12 months of age. We use the opportunity of seeing the child at 1 year of age to discuss important preventive measures with the parents to include the proper methods of maintaining good oral hygiene.

Preventive Dentistry Our goal is to prevent problems from occurring and to intercept them when they are present. This is accomplished through use of multiple techniques and resources at our disposal.

Sealants are a clear, acrylic-like material that helps shield out decay-causing bacteria from the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. It is recommended that sealants be applied to a child's primary (baby) molars by the age of three or four years. Once the six-year molars (the first permanent back teeth) appear, it is best to apply sealants as soon as possible. As a child's most cavity-prone years continue until the mid-teens, the premolars should also be sealed as they appear. Fluorides have been the most effective method of preventing tooth decay. Scientists have discovered that people have less tooth decay if their drinking water contains fluoride. Because teeth form during childhood, the fluoride becomes part of the tooth enamel, making teeth stronger and more resistant to decay. Very few communities in northern Idaho have fluoridated water. We will assess your child's needs and prescribe the proper dosage accordingly. Proper dosages are important to prevent dental fluorosis. There has been much information published on the benefits versus risks in using fluorides. Children living in a non-fluoridated area should take supplemental fluoride tablets or drops from age 6 months to 16 years of age. We also provide topical fluoride treatments for our patients who return for their semi-annual check ups. Interceptive Orthodontics is a critical aspect of managing developing malocclusions in the developing child. Many times, developmental problems can be detected and treated prior to the age when the child would normally have braces placed. Managing crowding of teeth at the earliest signs, can frequently prevent a child from needing complete orthodontic treatment in the future. We are equipped to treat many early developing orthodontic problems but also work hand in hand with local orthodontists, offering referrals for those children whose needs will involve complete braces. Oral Habits can often be a perplexing problem for parents to deal with. Habits such as thumb/fingersucking, teeth grinding, mouth breathing, pacifiers, etc., can lead to significant future dental problems, sometimes requiring orthodontic treatment if there is no intervention. We complete an assessment for oral habits at the initial dental examination for your child. We will provide risks involved with continuing the habit as well as inform you whether there is a genuine concern. Many times, these habits are discontinued spontaneously. We will provide you the proper guidance to hopefully direct you in dealing with the habit. Baby Bottle Tooth Decay is the leading cause of tooth decay in children under the age of 3 years. Greater than 85% of the children we treat in the hospital under general anesthesia is a result of prolonged bottle or breast feeding. Decay occurs when sweetened liquids are given and left clinging to an infant's teeth for long periods. Many sweet liquids cause problems, including milk, formula and fruit juice. Bacteria in the mouth use these sugars to form acids that attack the teeth and weaken the enamel. Each time your child drinks these liquids, acids attack for 20 minutes or longer. Frequent attacks eventually break down the enamel causing decay of the underlying dentin. It's not just what you put in your child's bottle that causes decay, but how often - and for how long. Giving your child a bottle of sweetened liquid many times a day is not a good idea. Allowing your child to fall asleep with a bottle during naps or at night can be the most harmful. Milk or juices "pool" around the teeth when the child falls asleep without swallowing all the liquid. This bathes the tooth in the acids that are formed thus weakening the teeth. Good oral hygiene habits along with discontinuing the bottle by age 12 months can prevent this source of dental disease. Recall Program. Preventive dentistry's foundation is built on a good recall program. Patients enrolled in our practice will be placed on a recall program customized to the patient's needs. Often children with significant problems need to be seen on a more frequent basis than those with minimal needs. The majority of our patients will be seen on a 6 month basis. Following the completion of their last appointment, patients will be placed on our recall list and will then be contacted in 6 months for a follow up examination, dental cleaning and fluoride treatment. Good foods and snacks to eat for you and your teeth. Apples, oranges, pears, bananas, peaches, plums, cantaloupe, watermelon, fruit cocktail, apricots, melons, grapes, celery, radishes, pickles, olives, carrots, tomatoes, cabbage, lettuce, ham cubes, eggs, asparagus, nuts, cottage cheese, cheese crackers, cheese wedges, cucumber slices, peanut butter, ice cream, popcorn, corn chips, triscuits, fritos, pretzels, hamburger, water, whole wheat bread, french fries, meat-cheese slices, sugarless gum, sugarless candy. Foods to avoid Cakes, pie, syrup, sugar type gum, candy, Hi-C drinks, juices, sugar koolaid, diet and regular soda, white bread, cookies, dried fruits (raisins,) marshmallows, sugar coated cereals, donuts, popsicles, bubble gum, caramels, caramel popcorn, graham crackers, jelly or jam. People need to limit their snacks between meals. If you must eat between meals, be sure to choose items from the good list. Frequent snacking between meals is harmful to your teeth and gums, and will likely cause cavities.   Hospital Dentistry Pediatric dentists are trained in treating children's dental needs in the hospital environment. Dr's Ukich and Pflipsen are on the staff at the Kootenai Medical Center and utilize the hospital's operating room on a weekly basis to provide care for those patients unable to tolerate treatment in a dental office setting. Patients requiring this service are usually the infant or very young child with extensive dental repair needs, the medically compromised patient as well as the patient with special needs as a result of medical or mental disabilities. Sedation Often, young children who are extremely fearful of dental treatment or don't have the ability to relax in a strange environment benefit from some form of sedative treatment. By using nitrous oxide (laughing gas) or an oral sedative, many times these children can cope with the necessary treatment thus preventing the need for treatment in the hospital under general anesthesia. These options will be discussed with parents at the initial dental examination appointment. Infection Control Our office uses a variety of methods to sterilize and disinfect. Dental instruments including the dental handpieces and water/air syringe tips are cleaned utilizing an industrial washer similar to your home dishwasher. The instruments trays are then wrapped in a paper wrap and sealed. Next they are placed in a steam autoclave, which uses steam under pressure to sterilize them by killing the viruses and other microscopic organisms capable of causing diseases. Disinfecting procedures are used on surfaces and equipment that cannot be removed for cleaning and sterilization, such as counter tops, drawer handles, X-ray unit heads and light handles. Disinfecting is done in the treatment room between patients to assure that the room is clean for each patient.