Our Services

 

At South Tampa Kids Dental Krewe, we provide a wide range of dental services for your children. Our flexibility in our services is designed to save you time and keeps your total dental care within one practice.

 

We take a holistic approach to your child’s dental health, with emphasis on total preventive care for our patients. This begins with regular hygiene visits, regular check-ups and continued home oral health routines. We provide many preventive measures to keep your child’s teeth clean and healthy, including sealants and fluoride treatments.

 

Our primary goal for your children’s dental development is to achieve and maintain optimum oral health through advances in techniques, technologies and by maintaining their scheduled dental exams.

 

First and foremost, we emphasize the importance of prevention. Prevention of cavities, gum disease, trauma, and more … we cover it! All around, prevention saves you time and expenses as well as less time in the dental chair for your child. From infancy through adolescence, we are here to help every step of the way!

 

Education is important; Dr. Lauren and her staff will go over tips and recommendations to develop a prevention plan for your child! Be sure to schedule regular exams and hygiene visits. In office, we can also provide preventive measures such as sealants and fluoride treatments!

 

Please know that a healthy mouth can’t just be obtained at the dental office. It is an ongoing process that takes a team effort between the parent and child at home. Healthy diet choices and proper oral hygiene habits are essential to optimizing your child’s health in between visits!

 

Dr. Lauren will always give you her best recommendation for your child’s teeth to be restored back to a healthy state!

 

You do have options though, and each will be thoroughly reviewed!

 

• Sealants

• Fillings (tooth-colored)

• Crowns

• Cosmetic crowns for the front teeth

• Zirconia crowns or tooth-colored crowns for those who don't want the stainless steel crowns

• Nerve treatments

 

And - drumroll, please ...

 

• Laser fillings

 

Allowing for ‘painfree dentistry' the laser is easily one of the biggest draws for parents with fearful children. It's state-of-the-art, washing away the cavity without the need for an injected anesthetic – the dreaded ‘shot’ – Dr. Lauren's laser has revolutionized how young patients achieve healthy smiles.

 

So from non-restorable teeth that are ready to meet the tooth fairy to teeth that are removed simply to get your child ready for braces ... we can help!

 

Baby teeth serve an important role of being “space savers” in the arch for the permanent teeth. If a baby tooth is lost prematurely, serious orthodontic issues could occur. Fortunately, there are appliances that Dr. Lauren can recommend to help hold the space until the underlying permanent tooth is ready to erupt!

 

From an early age, Dr. Lauren will also evaluate your child’s bite and will review with you what to expect with your child’s growth pattern. For example, if your child’s upper jaw is too narrow (from a possible thumb or pacifier habit), Dr. Lauren will recommend an expander when the time is right to help improve the jaw discrepancy so your child can function better! If Dr. Lauren anticipates your child may be a candidate for braces, an orthodontic consult will be recommended at the appropriate time!

 

"How is my child going to cooperate for treatment?" 

 

We get that question a lot!

 

Sometimes children may need extra help to have their dental needs met. Sedation dentistry refers to the use of sedation during dental treatment. Sedation is most commonly used in patients with extensive treatment needs, patients who have dental anxiety or a strong gag reflex, and/or patients that have difficulty sitting still.

 

Sedation can range from the use of nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”) to calm a patient to oral medications to make a patient drowsy. Sedation is endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and is an effective way to make many patients comfortable during their dental visit.

 

For patients who cannot maintain or receive traditional dental care or in-office sedation, IV sedation dentistry offers a compassionate, efficient alternative. Dr. Lauren is proud to work with Dr. Hector Vila and his team of anesthesiologists in providing this service.

 

Children with certain medical conditions, extensive treatment, and apprehension due to young age may benefit from I.V. sedation. Your child will still be treated in the office with a loving team: an anesthesiologist, nurses, Dr. Lauren, and her staff. All the dental work your child needs is completed in one visit.

For more information about pediatric IV sedation, please visit www.PediatricSedation.com.