Examinations
A fun first trip to the dentist can lead to a lifetime of good dental hygiene!
View All ServicesComprehensive Exams
Your child’s first visit with us will be a little longer than their recare visits. We want to take this time to introduce our office, staff and doctor to your child at their pace.
If your child is very young, they may cry a little at this visit. This is totally normal and something pediatric dentists encounter every day. New people and places can be overwhelming for young children, and they communicate this emotion by crying. We will do our best to minimize the parts of the appointment that are causing anxiety, and emphasize the interactions that build trust and rapport with your child.
Extra Care Club
Some children need to visit the dentist more often than just the standard two times per year. Our Extra Care Club is for children who have existing tooth decay (cavities) which are not planned to be treated with fillings. A child in this program returns to the office four times per year for oral hygiene instructions, teeth cleaning, review of dietary habits, appropriate monitoring of teeth with cavities that are being “watched”, application and monitoring of Silver Diamine Fluoride and fluoride-releasing sealant material (when indicated), and use of prescription medications to help fight tooth decay (these will be determined based on your child’s age).
Recare Exams
Children are recommended to visit the dentist twice per year for an examination, cleaning, oral hygiene instruction, nutritional counseling, and fluoride varnish treatment (when applicable). The doctor will also examine the shape of your child’s mouth and jaws, assess growth and development and potential crowding, examine the oral soft-tissues, and discuss any concerns you may have.
Digital X-Rays
Use of x-rays is a necessary component of routine dental care, as there are parts of the teeth that may develop cavities that are not able to be seen with the naked eye. However, as with any medical intervention, dental providers must balance the risk posed by a medical procedure with the benefit attained.
Although modern digital x-rays deliver a fraction of the dose of radiation per film as the traditional x-rays of generations past, Dr. Posthuma still strives to use them as judiciously as possible. She adheres to the guidelines set forth by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists when determining a child’s x-ray schedule, and prescribes x-rays in accordance with a child’s caries risk (risk for tooth decay). She is always happy to discuss with you the risk/benefit analysis of taking an x-ray prior to performing this procedure.