Here are our Smiles & Co. pediatric dental services that we provide!

Our Services

Smiles & Co. Pediatric Dentistry is pleased to provide personalized dental care for infants, children, and teens, including those with special health care needs. We offer an array of services that will adapt to your child's changing dental needs over the years. Please contact us with any questions!

Our Services Menu

Baby's First Checkup

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Infant Care

Baby’s First Checkup vertical_align_top

At Smiles & Co. Pediatric Dentistry, we support the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommendation that your child visits a dentist by age one. The first visit usually consists of a gentle exam of the teeth, gums, jaw and bite, a gentle cleaning and fluoride treatment. We will review proper brushing and oral home care, and discuss topics such as bottle use, pacifiers, breastfeeding and diet. As well as answer any questions you may have about your child’s oral health.

Checkups & Cleanings

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Preventative

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Routine dental visits are just as important for children as they are for adults, and we strongly recommend that your child sees a dental professional every six months. Professional dental cleanings help remove built up plaque and tartar that is not removable with brushing at home. A thorough exam will help identify potential problems that you may not yet see or feel. Depending on your child’s age, we will review appropriate oral hygiene recommendations to help them enjoy healthy, strong teeth for life. Your child’s growth and development will also be evaluated every six months to determine if orthodontic intervention is recommended.
Preventative

Fluoride Application vertical_align_top

Every child is assessed individually to determine where they may be getting exposure to fluoride. After each dental cleaning, we will recommend a professional fluoride application to strengthen your child’s teeth and help prevent tooth decay. We will assess your child’s risk of developing cavities and present a preventative plan that you are comfortable with.

Fluoride Application

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Sealants

Child representing the preventative dentistry Sealants Service
Preventative

Sealants vertical_align_top

Dental sealants are clear coatings applied to the chewing surface of molars. They safely and effectively fill in the pits and grooves on these hard-to-reach teeth, where cavities are most likely to form. At Smiles & Co. Pediatric Dentistry, we utilize BPA-free sealant material, and we will evaluate your child’s sealants at every six month visit to ensure they are continuing to provide the necessary protection.
Preventative

Athletic Mouthguards vertical_align_top

We love hearing our patients are active in sports! However, there is a high risk of dental trauma in sports with physical contact with hard surfaces or other players. We strongly recommend that your child wears an athletic mouthguard to protect their adult teeth from fracture or other injury. Over-the-counter mouthguards are available, but if you prefer a more customized, high quality alternative, we are happy to help.

Athletic Mouthguards

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Space Maintainers (Spacers)

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Preventative

Space Maintainers (Spacers) vertical_align_top

Baby teeth may be lost early due to injury or decay. As a result, adjacent teeth may start to shift, which could lead to future orthodontic problems. To prevent space loss, a space maintainer may be placed to hold the space of the missing tooth, allowing for proper growth and development. The spacer is removed once the permanent tooth starts to emerge.

Tooth Colored Fillings

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Restorative

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At Smiles & Co. Pediatric Dentistry, our aim is to help keep your child’s smile natural looking and beautiful. Thankfully, most small to medium size cavities can be treated with tooth colored fillings. These composite fillings bond directly to your child’s tooth and can be shaded to match the natural color of their enamel.
Restorative

Dental Crowns vertical_align_top

In cases of large and extensive cavities, it may not be possible to place a filling, as the risk of tooth fracture may be higher. In these situations, we may recommend dental crowns (caps) that are designed to cover and protect an existing tooth. This treatment will enable your child to keep their tooth strong and provide the necessary stability and function.

Dental Crowns

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Nerve Treatment (Pulpotomy)

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Restorative

Nerve Treatment (Pulpotomy) vertical_align_top

Your child may have tooth pain or sensitivity because a cavity is approaching the nerve inside the tooth. In these cases, a pulpotomy may be indicated. Pulpotomy treatment first removes the infected nerve tissue inside the tooth, which is then followed by the placement of a medication to calm the remaining nerve. Pulpotomy-treated teeth are more susceptible to fracture; therefore, we will recommend the placement of a dental crown to restore and strengthen the tooth.
Restorative

Extraction vertical_align_top

Although we strive to preserve your child’s natural teeth, there may be situations where that just isn’t possible. Teeth severely damaged by trauma or extensive dental cavities, causing pain or infection, may need to be removed. Orthodontists may also recommend the extraction of baby or permanent teeth as part of their treatment plan. Nitrous oxide is available to help keep your child comfortable during the procedure, and most times, the tooth is “wiggled out” before the child is even aware!

Extraction

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Silver Diamine Fluoride

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Restorative

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Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) is a liquid applied to areas of active tooth decay in efforts to prevent further progression of the cavity. While the ideal way to treat the cavity is to remove it and place a filling or crown, this alternative, non-invasive treatment has been shown to be effective at slowing or even stopping the progression of the cavity. This option may be considered for very small cavities, or cavities in very young children or special needs children that cannot tolerate traditional dental treatment and for whom sedation may not be an option.

Nitrous Oxide

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Sedation

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Some children may struggle with anxiety or have difficulty sitting through a dental procedure. We will utilize many different techniques to help your child relax and feel as comfortable as possible, including watching a movie as a distraction technique. In addition, we may recommend Nitrous Oxide, commonly known as “laughing gas” to help your child have a more pleasant experience and tolerate the procedure better.
Your child will wear a nose piece and breath in the gas while the dental procedure is performed. Usually within minutes, a calming effect comes over the child and they should feel more relaxed, while still being able to respond to verbal commands and enjoy their movie. Typically, the effects of Nitrous Oxide wear off within minutes, so your child should not have any lingering effects once the treatment is over. Nitrous Oxide is considered very safe, however, please discuss any questions or concerns you may have.
Sedation

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IV sedation is often recommended for very young children, apprehensive children, or those with special needs that cannot tolerate dental treatment, or for whom Nitrous Oxide is not effective. IV sedation allows high-quality, essentially pain-free treatment for your child, and is only recommended if Dr. Willox feels it is absolutely necessary. Our goal at Smiles & Co. Pediatric Dentistry is to provide treatment in the least invasive manner possible, however, there are instances where sedation may be beneficial to facilitate a more pleasant experience for your child.
While your child is sedated, Dr. Willox will be able to perform all necessary dental procedures in one sitting. At all times, the sedation will be administered and monitored by a medical anesthesiologist, in the comfort and convenience of our dental office. Our office utilizes the services of Pediatric Dental Anesthesia Associates, ensuring the highest standard of patient care and safety at all times. Please discuss any questions or concerns you may have.

IV Sedation

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Special Needs Care

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Special Needs

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At Smiles & Co. Pediatric Dentistry, our entire team is trained in treating medically compromised patients, as well as those children with developmental, social or physical special needs. We understand that these children often require extra attention and compassion, and we are committed to providing such care. We will adapt as necessary to ensure that your child receives care in as safe and comfortable manner as possible. Please call us to discuss any specific concerns you have about your child’s special needs and the delivery of dental care.

Digital Radiographs

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Advanced Technology

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Dental x-rays are valuable, essential tools that help to diagnose problems not always visible during a dental exam. At Smiles & Co. Pediatric Dentistry, we utilize digital x-ray equipment to maximize your child’s safety and minimize your child’s exposure to radiation. In fact, radiation exposure is reduced by 90%. Dental x-rays are only recommended as needed, and your child will be provided with a lead body apron with thyroid collar to minimize radiation exposure even further. If you have any concerns about x-rays, please discuss them with us.
Advanced Technology

Infection Control vertical_align_top

At Smiles & Co. Pediatric Dentistry, it is our commitment to you, that we take every step to ensure the safety and health of your children. Sterilization and infection control are a vital and comprehensive part of our dental practice, and we follow all OSHA and Florida Board of Dentistry regulations, requirements, and recommendations for the safety of both staff and patients.

Infection Control

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Emergency

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If your child has suffered a blow to the head, has lost consciousness or has any other life-threatening emergency, please call 911 and proceed immediately to the nearest emergency room.
For dental emergencies, we are here to help. Our Board Certified Pediatric Dentist, Dr. Willox, has received special training in how to handle dental trauma and provide the necessary urgent treatment. Please call our office immediately for any urgent dental situations, including, but not limited to:
Severe Toothache: Clean the affected area by rinsing thoroughly with warm water. Dental floss may be used to dislodge any impacted food. If the pain persists, contact our office. If swelling of the face is observed, apply a cold compress and contact our office immediately.
Knocked out Permanent Tooth: Contact our office IMMEDIATELY! If possible, find the tooth, but do NOT touch the root! You may hold the tooth by the crown and rinse only with water if necessary. Do not scrub the tooth or handle unnecessarily. If the tooth is intact, you may try to reinsert in the socket. Otherwise, place the tooth in milk or saliva and head directly to our office! Timing is critical in the long-term prognosis for this type of injury.
Chipped or Fractured Tooth: Contact our office IMMEDIATELY! Clean the affected area by rinsing thoroughly with warm water. Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling, if necessary. If possible, locate any broken tooth fragments and bring them with you to our office.
Tooth Displacement: If the tooth has moved position, either pushed in, to the side, or partially pulled out, contact our office immediately. Try to prevent further displacement of the tooth and head directly to our office so attempts to stabilize and reposition the tooth can be made.
Injury to the Tongue, Lip or Cheek: Apply a cold compress to the area to reduce swelling. To control bleeding, apply firm but gentle pressure with a cloth. If bleeding persists, contact our office or visit the nearest emergency room.
Injury to the Jaw: Keep the jaw from moving and proceed immediately to the nearest emergency room.
**When in doubt for any dental emergency, do not hesitate to call our office or call 911. These suggestions are in no way intended to replace proper medical or dental care and advice.