Preventive Oral Hygiene Instruction:

This includes proper brushing, flossing and eating habits, ideal fluoride levels and the use of pit and fissure sealants. We strive to provide a fun, educational environment where children learn about the importance of good dental hygiene.

 

Restorative Dentistry:

This includes children’s fillings, crowns and prosthesis, including treatment of the often devastating nursing bottle decay.  Our doctors are committed to discussing all options before these procedures are completed and answering all questions you may have.  Always working for the goal of a healthy smile is our first priority.

 

Most children can be treated in the office under local anesthesia with or without the use of Nitrous Oxide sedation.  However, Dr. Ison is thoroughly trained and licensed to provide operative dental procedures under both conscious sedation and under general anesthesia and treat many children utilizing these tools of comfort on a daily basis. He has the training and experience to provide these additional services should your child need an extra level of comfort and relaxation.  The extent of your child’s treatment needs, age, anxiety level, and other factors are all considerations in deciding which approach will be best for your child.

 

Emergency Treatment:

While our goal is to prevent dental emergencies, we understand that the need for urgent dental care is sometimes necessary and can be a stressful experience for both parents and children. We strive to handle dental emergencies promptly and with compassion.

 

Emergencies in dentistry include traumatic injuries and acute infections.  In both cases the best action is to talk personally with Dr. Ison.  It is our policy to see an injured patient as soon as they can arrive at our office and an acutely infected patient on the day they contact us.  If the call is made after regular operating hours, our after hours emergency phone numbers can be found by calling our office at any time with pen and paper in hand and taking down the contact numbers from the recorded message which is updated daily for after hours callers.

 

There is one type of emergency that bears immediate attention by the parent long before contact is made with our office.  In the event of a permanent tooth avulsion (knocked out permanent tooth), the best result will come from taking the tooth and holding it under running water to remove dirt and/or debris for a few seconds or light rubbing with the finger (no heavy scrubbing or brushing) and inserting the tooth back into the socket in the mouth that it normally occupied, instructing the child to hold the tooth or to lightly bite on gauze or a clean wash cloth until contact and further instruction can be received from Dr. Ison. The time the tooth is out of the mouth greatly affects whether or not the injured tooth will last many years or only a few years or less.  Every minute counts! While we realize this may be a difficult request for the squeamish parent, it is vitally important to get the tooth back in the socket.  If it just cannot be done, then place the tooth in whole milk or 2% milk and bring it in with the child.  There is a material available called ”Hanks Balanced Salt Solution” which is made for these situations, but most folks don't go to the trouble or expense to keep this readily available.  And... nothing beats getting the tooth back in the socket.  Once you’ve put the tooth back in the socket (or secured it in the appropriate solution)call us at  812.490.8070.