Pediatrics
At Wahlers Family Dentistry, we treat your entire family, from the youngest members to the most senior.
Just like you, we believe in starting kids off on the right foot, and one of the best ways to do this is through regular visits to a child-friendly dentist office from a young age. In fact, we encourage parents to bring their young children with them to the office when they get their teeth cleaned. Visiting the office with Mom and Dad helps children to see what a friendly place the dentist's office is. Often, children can't wait to get in the chair themselves because they already feel so positively about the dentist and hygienist!
Your Child’s First Visit
Some organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, suggest that children see the dentist by the age of one. As is often the case, however, the best time to start seeing a dentist will depend entirely on your child’s needs and your family’s own unique situation.
Early visits can be beneficial because they help to normalize the dental office and help children see it as a safe (and even fun!) place to be. At these first visits, we typically won’t try to perform a cleaning or an exam. We’ll introduce your child to the chair and some of our instruments and discuss topics like early tooth care and good nutrition with you. We’re also happy to address any questions or concerns you might have. Common questions that parents have at this point often include concerns about the best way to clean those first few teeth or about pacifier use and thumb-sucking.
Many kids will benefit from having their first “real” visit between the ages of two and three. At this point, we can often take advantage of their natural curiosity and interest. We’ll let them explore and touch some of our instruments (like our mirrors) and give them a tour of the office. If your child cooperates, this is usually a great time for a quick polish and a ride in the chair.
Helping Kids Feel Comfortable
These early appointments set the stage for your child’s care as he or she grows up. When children feel safe and confident at the dentist’s office, they will feel more empowered and able to take good care of their teeth. We’ll work closely with you and your child to help build and support good home care habits for a lifetime of healthy teeth.
We recognize that kids are not just “little adults.” As they go through different stages of development, they will have different dental needs. A father himself, Dr. Wahlers is skilled and experienced at providing dental care for children and will be there for your children as they grow and develop.
We’ve also put careful thought into making sure that our practice is warm and inviting to patients of all ages. Each treatment room includes a TV, which can provide a welcome distraction for anyone during care. We also have a fun prize basket for kids who were well-behaved during their appointment.
Are You Ready to Schedule Your Child’s Appointment?
Parents tell us that their children enjoy coming to the dentist, and we love to hear this! We consider our patients to be an extended part of our own family, and your comfort is always one of our top priorities.
Call us today and let’s find a time that works well for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
A sealant is a term for a preventive procedure where the grooves in tooth’s surface are sealed with a resin dental material. Most molars (back teeth) have grooves on the biting surfaces and sometimes these grooves extend to the sides of a tooth also. These grooves can trap small bits of food and bacteria, and even perfect brushing techniques may not be able to remove and clean the deepest portions of these grooves. Therefore, cavities frequently develop in these areas.
It is recommended to have any susceptible grooves sealed to prevent cavities. If there is stain or plaque in the grooves, they are first cleaned out with a tiny dental bur prior to being sealed in with dental material. The procedure is quick, painless, and helps to prevent cavities from forming in these grooves.
It is important to note that sealants are not as strong or long-lasting as fillings. Sometimes a sealant may need to be re-applied if it wears down or comes loose over time. It is also important to note that although sealants greatly reduce the incidence of cavities, nothing eliminates the possibility altogether. A diet high in sugars and carbohydrates combined with poor brushing habits can always lead to cavities.
While guidelines state that children should see a dentist by age one, the reality is that there is little that needs to be done for most one year olds, assuming that they are receiving proper care and nutrition at home. Of course, if a parent suspects that there may be a problem, a dentist should examine the child, regardless of age.
Dr. Wahlers’s children both received their first polish and ride in the chair at about the age of two and a half. Some parents prefer to wait until their child is three years old. It also depends a great deal on the temperament of the child.
We do encourage parents to bring their children with them to their cleanings. This is a great way to introduce children to the dental office so that they can see that it’s not a scary place and that getting their teeth cleaned is a normal thing to do. Plus, kids tend to have a lot of natural curiosity, and we can answer their questions using language they can understand and show them the instruments we use. By the time it’s their turn, they’ll often be quite eager to have their first cleaning!
If you have any questions about children’s dentistry, feel free to call our office and we’ll be happy to help!
We encourage parents to bring your young child with you for your check up and cleaning, and allowing them to color, read, or play on an electronic device during your visit (as long as they can sit still!) This will introduce them to the dentist and the staff and make them comfortable and familiar with the office for when it is their turn.
At the child’s first visit, usually between the ages 2-4 (depending on their cooperation and enthusiasm), we keep it very brief and positive. Young children are typically very cooperative, but for only a short period of time. Allowing a stranger to look in their mouth is usually tolerated for a few minutes, but not too much longer. We count the teeth, examine them for decay or problems, polish the teeth and give a prize to the child. At successive visits, more and more can be completed. It usually takes a few visits (therefore years) to work up to the full extent of a dental visit which may include X-rays, cleaning and polishing, fluoride treatment, and examination.
Dr. Wahlers believes that positive dental experiences at a young age are extremely important. Our youngest patients leave our office smiling, with a new brush and a prize. Most of them are excited to return for their next visit! If you have any questions about your child’s visit, feel free to call.
We see many children in our general dental office, providing very similar care to them that we provide to our adult patients. Children should be seen at regular six month intervals for check-ups which include a cleaning, examination and fluoride treatment. Dental X-rays are usually recommended with a typical interval of once every two years to check for cavities and the development of the adult dentition. As with all of our patients, treatment is tailored to the individual, and not all patients receive exactly the same treatment. Differences in treatment schedules may depend upon the age of the patient ( i.e. a 3 year-old may not be able tolerate having X-rays taken), other risk factors (i.e. children who have a history of developing cavities may benefit from more frequent X-rays or fluoride treatments), or personal preferences or medical conditions. If needed, we also provide sealants and fillings for children. In the event that more extensive work involving crowns or root canal treatment is needed, we occasionally refer to local pediatric dentists that are excellent. Many of our adult patients first started coming to our practice as children, and remain patients to this day!
Meet Our Doctor:
Dr. Christopher Wahlers
Dr. Wahlers was born and raised in central New Jersey. He attended Gettysburg College for his undergraduate studies, where he majored in biology, graduating summa cum laude. During his undergraduate volunteer experiences in different medical settings, Christopher decided to pursue a career in dentistry.
During his time at New Jersey Dental School (Rutgers University), Christopher served as president of his class and graduated in 2003 as a member of the OKU National Dental Honor Society. He continued his education with an Advanced Dental Education residency program at Temple University.
Prior to Wahlers ...
Featured Blog Posts - Pediatrics
Does my child need to see a pediatric dentist?
At Wahlers Family Dentistry, we see patients of all ages from toddlers to the elderly. We love the youngest patients in our practice; unlike most adult patients they are usually happy and excited to be here! Many parents wonder if a pediatric dentist is a better choice than a general dentist for their children. The answer is a matter of personal preference. Although most young children in this area of Pennsylvania see a pediatrician for their medical care, general dentists (and not pediatric dentists) actually see the majority of children for their dental care. This is because routine dental care for children is not that different than dental care for adults. Dental cleanings and polishings, occasional X-rays to check for ...