We know dentistry can be scary for kids (and adults, too!). You need a kids dental care team you can trust! Our staff, including Dr. Drew who has been working in kids dental care for over 20 years, is fully committed to helping you and your child feel at ease and leave our office smiling. We provide plenty of distractions and tools for helping kids of all ages to relax and were extra patient through every process. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.
Katrina Drew, DDS joined Pediatric Dental Associates in 1997 after completing her DDS degree and her Pediatric Dental Residency both from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry in San Bernardino California. Dr. Drews dedication to her work and devotion to her patients is evident to every child and their family. Dr. Drew has over 20 years of experience in caring for the dental needs of the children in Lane County and surrounding areas.Dr. Drew loves spending time with her family, and playing outdoors.
Dentistry for children begins with the first visit. We recommend establishing a dental home for your child by their first birthday. By choosing a pediatric dentist to work with consistently, your childs teeth have a much higher rate of staying healthy.
Whats more, establishing a dental home allows you and your child to build a relationship with our staff and receive more personalized care. Our goal is to ensure that your child will have healthy teeth their entire life.
Dentistry for children includes special services that adults dont need. One of these things is primary tooth care. One of the reasons we recommend establishing a dental home by age one is because your childs primary (or baby) teeth are just as important as their adult teeth. These teeth begin surfacing from about 4-8 months of age. Without proper care, mishandled primary teeth health can cause issues for your child, including:
Though fluoride is essential for tooth health, too little or too much can have adverse side effects. Use too little, and your childs teeth wont be adequately protected. On the other hand, ingesting too much can cause dental fluorosis. Below are some tips to ensure that your child uses fluoride correctly:
(commonly known as Baby Bottle Tooth Decay)All parents should be aware of early childhood caries. Caries is an extreme form of tooth decay caused by sugary liquids, including breast milk. The nickname baby bottle tooth decay comes from the cause of many cases of caries. Often parents will put their child to sleep with a bottle that contains milk or other sugary liquids. Resting in the babys mouth at night can cause rapid decay. If your child requires a bottle at night, use ONLY water to reduce the possibility of caries.
Whats more, with the help of modern technology, the possible effects of radiation exposure via dental x-rays are astronomically lower than the chances of developing an oral condition for someone who never gets x-rays.
