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Pediatric Dental Services

Shot Free Dentistry at Oregon Kids Pediatric Dentistry!

As a Pediatric Dentistry office serving Eugene, Oregon, we focus on dental care that fits each child’s needs and age, with a friendly team and a calm experience for patients and parents. Most parents and children fear the “shot,” especially at a first dentist visit. To help reduce this anxiety and alleviate fear, Dr. Lentfer has taken steps to educate herself in new technology that allows cavity removal without the need for numbing, supporting healthy oral health for young patients.

Dr. Lentfer can speak with you and your child to determine if the care your child needs is a good candidate for “shot free” dentistry and the best use of your time at the office. Being the first and most experienced pediatric dentist in Lane county using the Solea Laser, Dr. Lentfer can provide shot free treatment for many different treatments, helping treat cavities with less stress for patients. Click here to watch a video on why Kids and their parents love the Solea dental laser. If you are deciding whether this approach is right for your family, check our patient reviews and schedule a visit to our Eugene office to see how the Solea Laser can support oral health and a confident smile.

White Fillings

White fillings are used when there is a small cavity on your child’s tooth, and they are a common pediatric dentistry treatment. There are many material options for this type of filling. Dr. Lentfer can discuss your options, including materials with and without fluoride, so patients and family members understand the dental care plan. All of our materials are BPA free. Our Eugene practice keeps materials and techniques kid-centered, and our staff will explain each step so patients know what to expect and families can make informed decisions about care.

White Crowns

White Crowns are used when decay is too large to fix with a white filling, or when a baby root canal is required, depending on your child’s age and needs. Dr. Lentfer offers Zirconia (all white) crowns for front and back teeth. As there are limitations with white crowns, Dr. Lentfer will discuss your options and formulate a treatment plan that is ideal for you and your child, with special attention to function, appearance, and long-term dental health.

Stainless Steel Crowns

Stainless Steel Crowns are used on the back teeth when decay is too large to fix with a white filling, or, a baby root canal is required. Stainless Steel Crowns are more adaptable than the white crowns; therefore, they are sometimes recommended instead of a white crown on back teeth based on your child’s needs and the dentist’s clinical judgment.

Extractions

Extractions are indicated when a tooth is no longer fixable and/or has an infection. When a permanent tooth has an abscess, it can often be saved with a root canal, which is a common dental treatment in a pediatric dentist practice when appropriate. That is not the case with baby teeth. When a baby tooth is at the point of abscess, it can almost never be fixed and therefore requires an extraction. Baby teeth are smaller and easier to extract than a permanent tooth and children do not get dry sockets, so an extraction of a baby tooth is often simpler than an adult tooth extraction and can be completed in less time for patients. When indicated, Dr. Lentfer will place a space maintainer to save room for the adult tooth.

Baby Root Canal

A baby root canal is recommended when a cavity is close to, or into, the nerve of the baby tooth and the tooth is deemed “savable,” helping treat infection while preserving your child’s smile. This procedure is nothing like a permanent tooth root canal and is a much faster process using completely different materials than an adult root canal. After the cavity is removed and the infected nerve is removed, a medicine is placed inside the tooth and a crown is placed on top. This allows the baby tooth to remain in the mouth for your child to use when eating and hold space for the permanent tooth, supporting oral health and proper development. These teeth usually fall out at the same time as if no treatment was completed but can sometimes fall out prematurely.

Space Maintenance

In situations as noted under this section in extractions, baby teeth sometimes need to be removed prematurely. In this case, we want to hold space for the developing permanent tooth that may still be years away from erupting. There are different types of space maintainers. Dr. Lentfer will evaluate your child and recommend a space maintainer that will fit their individual needs, with dental care planned around comfort and timing. Space maintenance is a special part of pediatric dental care because it supports proper development when baby teeth are lost early; our Eugene team will monitor timing and fit over time to protect long-term oral health.

Sealants

50-80% of decay on permanent first molars, aka “Six Year Old Molars,” start on the biting surface of the tooth. Sealants are a non-invasive preventative procedure that can be performed to prevent decay on this surface of the tooth. Our sealant material is BPA free and reduces the risk of decay on the biting surface of tooth by 50-80% over the five years following their placement. We will evaluate their presence at every six month check up and replace them as indicated to protect teeth over time. Sealants are almost always covered 100% by insurance. For many Kids, sealants are a simple way to protect a young smile during the ages when new molars come in, and our dentist will check them over time at each recall visit.

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous Oxide, aka “laughing gas,” is a very safe way to make your child’s dental treatment comfortable, and it is widely used in Pediatric Dentistry. Nitrous oxide is administered through a small mask that sits on your child’s nose. Your child will not fall asleep and will leave the same way they came in as Nitrous Oxide is quickly flushed out of your child’s system using 100% oxygen before they are dismissed. Nitrous Oxide is the most common form of sedation in pediatric dentistry, and it helps many patients feel relaxed during treatment. Your child can return to normal activity when they leave our dental office if nitrous oxide is used, and most families find the recovery time is short. Many patients do well with nitrous oxide, and our friendly staff will review the plan, timing, and aftercare so your family feels prepared for the visit.

Your child can have a light meal 2 hours prior to treatment with nitrous oxide.

Conscious Sedation

Conscious sedation is when your child is given a low dose of Valium an hour before their appointment. They will not fall asleep but will be drowsy for a few hours after they leave the dental appointment, so plan extra time for rest. Your child will need to stay in your care for the remainder of the day if conscious sedation is used.

Your child cannot have anything to eat 8 hours prior to treatment with conscious sedation. If you have questions about sedation options, our pediatric dentists can review your child’s age, medical history, and dental needs so patients receive care that is appropriate and safe.

General Anesthesia

At Oregon Kids Pediatric Dentistry, we have two options for treatment using general anesthesia as part of our pediatric dentistry services. The first is in-office general anesthesia. The Doctor performing the anesthesia is a licensed anesthesiologist and is happy to answer any questions you have prior to treatment, so patients and family members know what to expect. Dr. Lentfer has worked with the same in-office anesthesiologists for many years and has full confidence in their treatment abilities and safety record. The second option is River Bend Hospital. Providing these options allows us to tailor the anesthesia experience to your child’s needs. Dr. Lentfer and her team can discuss which option is best for you and your child, based on age, health history, and the dental work planned. Our pediatric dentist and staff welcome families from Eugene and nearby Springfield, OR, treating each child with special attention to comfort, time, and long-term oral health.

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(541) 636-4344

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