Dr. Jennifer Rutledge earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Arkansas at Monticello and graduated with honors. She then went on to receive her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry. Following dental school, Dr. Rutledge worked in private practice in the Dallas area for three years. All but six months of that time were spent exclusively treating children. Her passion for children's dentistry led her to a two year pediatric specialty residency at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. During her second year there, she had the honor of serving as Chief Resident. Dr. Rutledge is also a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.
Even though Dr. Rutledge was born and raised in small town Dumas, Arkansas, she considers Texas her home. She has a beautiful daughter, Jordan, and a Yorkie named Bella. In her free time, Dr. Rutledge likes to watch movies, knit hats, crochet, do art projects, and community service with her daughter.
A pediatric dentist has an extra two to three years of specialized training after dental school, and is dedicated to the oral health of children from infancy through the teenage years. The very young, pre-teens, and teenagers all need different approaches in dealing with their behavior, guiding their dental growth and development, and helping them avoid future dental problems.
As a pediatric dental specialist, Dr. Rutledge knows how to pay special attention to your child's emotional and developmental needs. We tailor our approach to each child so that they have a happy and comfortable experience in our office. Each child is unique, which is why we work with you to decide the best approach to treating your child. Taking your child to a pediatric dentist for their oral health care is like taking your child to a pediatrician for their medical care. Just as a pediatrician develops his or her special talents, skills, and knowledge for working with children's overall health, a pediatric dentist does the same to more effectively manage a child's dental needs. Parents have peace of mind knowing their children are receiving the best possible care from a pediatric dental specialist and kids will be happy because the office was designed for them to have fun.
At Rutledge Pediatric Dentistry, we know that you only want the best for your child. That's the goal of our team... to make each visit a positive and fun experience. Our practice has been strategically designed to be kid friendly, comfortable, entertaining, and educational. We have thoughtfully designed our office with exceptional detail to meet your child's dental needs and to make it an enjoyable experience...we want to be your child's dental home. As a convenience to parents, we built our office next to The Prep daycare, two pediatrician offices, and Baylor Hospital. This way, you can take care of most of your children's needs in one convenient location.
The best possible oral health can be obtained through prevention first and intervention second. By learning good oral health habits at a young age and how cavities form, patients can take an active roll in their dental future and not just go to the dentist when there is a problem.
Most often, it is the mother of the family who decides where their children go for medical and dental care. As a mom, Dr. Rutledge knows and understands what is important when searching for a dentist and how difficult it can be to trust someone else with your child. With this information in mind, she built her office and practices in a manner that keeps both the kiddos and the parents happy. Children are sometimes fearful about coming to the dentist. They may have heard stories from friends that make them worried or maybe it's just being in a new environment. Either way, we are trained to handle these situations by a patient and gentle approach. Instead of rushing a fearful child through an exam or procedure, we work at a pace the patient is comfortable with. We listen to them, talk with them, reassure, and encourage them.
You can make the first visit to the dentist enjoyable and positive. If old enough, your child should be informed of the visit and told that 'Dr. Rutledge is going to teach you how to take care of your teeth,' 'she will count your teeth using a special tooth mirror' and 'she may take pictures of your teeth to make sure they are healthy.' The less to-do concerning the visit, the better.
There are many child friendly books about going to the dentist that you can read with your child prior to the first exam. Two of these include: The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist and Dora the Explorer - Show Me Your Smile, A Visit to the Dentist. Afterwards, your child might even want to practice being the dentist at home and looking at your teeth!
It is best if you refrain from using words around your child that might cause unnecessary fear, such as 'needle', 'shot', 'pull', 'drill' or 'hurt'. The office makes a practice of using words that convey the same message, but are pleasant and non-frightening to the child. Some of the child friendly terms may include:
Our office, as well as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Dental Association (ADA), and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) all recommend establishing a 'Dental Home' for your child by one year of age. Children who have a dental home are more likely to receive appropriate preventive and routine oral health care.
During your first visit we will gather all the information we need to develop a preventative program unique to your child. We will discuss appropriate home care such as brushing, flossing, diet and fluoride as it relates to your child specifically. Dr. Rutledge will perform a thorough dental exam for each child, determine their dental caries (cavities) risk, check for any tooth decay, examine their occlusion (bite), evaluate for any dental growth or developmental concerns, and discuss any oral habits such as the thumb, finger, or pacifier use. We will do a dental cleaning, fluoride treatment, and determine whether your child is ready for x-rays... this typically depends on your child's age and level of anxiety. If Dr. Rutledge determines your child needs dental treatment, she will discuss all the options offered in our office and help you make the best choice for your child.
Don't be discouraged if your child cries on the first visit to the dentist. Crying is a normal reaction for some children when faced with a new situation. Remember to compliment your child to others no matter how your child performed during their visit. It is important that they feel reassured and positive about their dental experience. The more positive we all make the visit, the more they will want to come back and try even harder next time!
It is also important that your child visits the dentist every six months. The six month recall system is the best way to ensure early detection of any issue that might affect your child's oral health. They're not just getting a cleaning, they're getting an opportunity to have their brushing and flossing technique evaluated. The removal of tartar is another benefit because once plaque has hardened, it cant be removed by brushing alone... a dentist has special tools that can remove it. With the six month recall, theyll also get the chance to have a professional fluoride treatment, which helps strengthen your child's teeth, further preventing cavities and decay.