Serving Mesa, Phoenix, Gilbert, Tempe And Scottsdale, Arizona
At our Phoenix area family dentistry practice, we are dedicated to providing exceptional and compassionate dental care that we would provide for our own children and relatives. From cosmetic dentistry for adults who want to improve their smiles, to teeth cleaning and pediatric dentistry for the youngest member of your family, we offer all of the dental treatments needed to keep your family’s teeth and gums healthy, functional and beautiful.
Our Family Dentistry Services
At the core of a dental practice is a wide range of services to meet the dental needs of everyone in your family. Our family dental services include:
- Preventive orthodontics
- Root canal treatment
- Emergency dental care
- Gum disease treatment
- Cosmetic dentistry
Both of the dentists and all of the dental staff at Drs of Smiles are trained and experienced in working with the youngest patients. Most of us have children of our own and know about the apprehension they may feel at the dentist. We do everything we can to make them comfortable.
We recommend scheduling your child’s first appointment at 1 years old. Our goal is to help each child develop a positive attitude toward going to the dentist by making each of his or her dental experiences a positive one. When your child adopts a value of good dental hygiene and regular dental visits, he or she will enjoy lifelong oral health.
We are open 6 days a week, Monday through Saturday, with a doctor on call for after-hour emergencies.
How Young Can Children Be For Family Dentistry?
At Drs of Smiles, we pride ourselves on offering expert care for every member of the family, hence the term.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that a child see the dentist by the age of 1 or within six months after the first tooth erupts. Unfortunately, this is the exception — in the U.S. most parents don’t get their children to their family dentist until they are well over 2 years old, the average first visit being when the child is 2.6 years old.
People think the primary/baby teeth don’t merit the same attention as permanent teeth, but this is a mistake. The primary teeth need to stay in place until the permanent teeth are ready to erupt. They maintain spacing for the permanent teeth; they help the child speak properly; they allow the child to eat a healthy diet; and they help the child feel good about his or her smile.
Should I Be Cleaning My Child’s Mouth Before Then?
You do need to actively clean your infant’s gums, even if a tooth hasn’t erupted. At first there will be some squirming, but then they will get used to it. Use a soft baby toothbrush or a soft washcloth to gently clean their mouth.
When the first tooth erupts it’s time to use an infant toothbrush and a fluoride toothpaste twice daily. This is the way to start a lifetime ritual of good oral hygiene.
How Often Should My Child See The Dentist?
After that first visit, we should see the child once during his or her second year. Then, beginning at age 3, the child should have twice-yearly cleanings and exams — the same schedule as the rest of the family.
This timeframe allows our three dentists to spot tooth decay before it really takes hold in a tooth. Plus, these visits are the time to ensure that everything is developing correctly in your child’s mouth. We will keep an eye on missing or crooked teeth and check for erupting permanent teeth. Fluoride applications are also an important part of these visits.
What Happens If Someone In My Family Has Dental Anxiety?
Having fear or anxiety about going to the dentist isn’t unusual, and it’s certainly no reason to miss out on the dental care necessary to keep your oral health in tip top shape. That’s why part of our approach to family dentistry is providing sedation when necessary to help patients relax.
We offer three forms of sedation dentistry:
- Oral sedation — This involves a light oral sedative.
- Nitrous oxide — Also known as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is simple and effective.
- NuCalm — This is a new, drug-free approach to easing stress and anxiety.
Will I Need To Find A New Dentist As I Get Older?
At Drs of Smiles, we love treating generations of patients. It’s rewarding caring for a new child or grandchild in one appointment followed by mom or dad in the next. For you, there’s nothing like the continuity of knowing everyone in the family can have their teeth cared for with the same dentist. Those kinds of long-term relationships are important to each of us at Drs of Smiles.
Drs. Dodaro and LeSueur place a special emphasis on education for our younger patients. Plus, we understand that providing a positive, relaxing dental experience for those same patients sets the tone for a lifetime of diligent dental hygiene.
A great thing about our range of patients and expertise is that you won’t need to change dentists when your children reach a certain age. We provide treatment for the entire span from grandchildren up to their grandparents.
What’s The Difference Between A Family Dentist And A Pediatric Dentist?
Pediatric dentists are basically pediatricians, but just for your child’s oral health. A pediatric dentist typically sees children from the age of around 6 months old until their final adult (permanent) teeth have come in. This is usually at age 12 or 13. While some parents continue to have their adolescents stay with their pediatric dentist, most feel the need to switch to an adult dentist at that time.
Family dentists, like our trio at Drs of Smiles, are trained and have extensive experience treating all patients from their first appointment all the way through their adult years. That gives a family dentistry such as ours the full picture of each patient’s dental health throughout their lifetime.
How Our Dental Team Accommodates Your Family
Drs of Smiles is committed to creating an environment where families feel welcome and comfortable, and where dental care for each member of your family is convenient for you. We try to schedule family members at the same time whenever possible, so everyone can get their cleaning and checkup in one visit.
We also strive to make our office comfortable for you and your children. We have a large waiting room with a separate children’s play area. The play area has children’s books, toys, and TV and DVDs to entertain your child while waiting to see the dentist. Or, if you’d like your child to do some homework while he or she waits, we also have desk areas where they can sit and study.
Please visit us today to learn more about us and our family dentists, Dr. Glenn LeSueur and Dr. Charles Dodaro.
Contact Us Today!
Dr. Glenn LeSueur and Dr. Charles Dodaro are Mesa dentists, serving Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Gilbert, Chandler, and other East Valley Cities in Arizona, combine LVI training and state-of-the-art technology to bring you, and your entire family, the very best and healthiest cosmetic and neuromuscular dental care.
Visit our before and after gallery to see the results we are able to achieve for our patients. Please contact or call 480.834.6991 to schedule a consultation at Drs of Smiles.