Financial/Insurance
Does your office accept Medicaid and CHP+?
Yes. Dr. Nichols and Dr. Milot are Medicaid and CHP+ providers.
What does my insurance cover?
It is important to understand that all dental insurances are different and coverage varies depending on your plan. We will always do our best to estimate what your payment portion will be. However, this is just an estimate and not a guarantee your insurance company will pay what we estimate they will.
Are you in-network for my insurance?
Longmont Pediatric Dentistry is in network for most PPO plans. Please call our office (303-776-1194) and we will be able to confirm your dental coverage and let you know if we are in network for your plan.
Prevention
When should I start brushing and flossing my child’s teeth?
It is important to start brushing your child’s teeth as soon as they erupt. It is even beneficial to wipe off your child’s gums before teeth erupt! It is important to start flossing once your child has any teeth that touch/contact.
What are sealants?
Sealants are a thin white coating that goes onto the biting surface of teeth. Sealants fill in the “groovy” areas on the biting surfaces of teeth to make these areas smoother and therefore make it more difficult for cavities to form. We typically recommend sealants on permanent molars because the biting surfaces of permanent molars are the most common areas to develop cavities.
How can I prevent my child from getting cavities?
First, great oral hygiene habits are very important to help prevent cavities. This includes brushing twice per day and daily flossing. Second, a healthy diet can help prevent cavities. This includes drinking a lot of water and having healthy snacks. Avoid sweets and carbohydrates between meals. Also, drink only water between meals and remember that juice, soda and sports drinks are bad for teeth. Never let your child have anything to drink besides water after brushing at night. Third, bring your child to the dentist! Children who receive routine dental care are at a much lower risk of developing cavities.
Treatment
Are x-rays safe?
At Longmont Pediatric Dentistry, we have digital x-rays. This technology has greatly decreased the amount of radiation exposure necessary to obtain dental x-rays. We also always use the proper shielding (like lead aprons) that help minimize radiation exposure. We also attempt to take a minimal amount of x-rays and only at intervals recommended for your child based on the guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association.
What is nitrous oxide?
Nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”) can help relax a patient during a dental procedure. It is also an analgesic and can help make something uncomfortable more bearable. It is easy to use (patients just breath it through their nose) and most children are very accepting of it and like how it makes them feel. Use of Nitrous Oxide also has very few side effects. At the end of the appointment, the patient breaths 100% Oxygen for about 5 minutes to ensure the nitrous oxide is no longer in their system when they leave.
What treatment options does your office offer?
If a child requires dental treatment, in most instances we are able to complete the treatment in our office with the use of nitrous oxide if indicated. We also have a TV above the chair to help relax patients. If dental needs are extensive, we also offer treatment with the use of general anesthesia at Children’s Hospital Colorado or in our office (administered by a dental anesthesiologist). We do not offer oral sedation at our office. If this is a good treatment option for your child, we will refer them to an office where they can be evaluated for dental treatment using oral sedation.
What types of fillings does your office do?
We only do white fillings at our office. These filling materials are called composite or glass ionomer. These types of fillings do not contain mercury.
Does your office place silver crowns?
If a baby tooth has very large decay or the decay extends to the nerve, placement of a stainless steel crown may be indicated. We are always happy to discuss all treatment options with parents to make sure you are comfortable with the choices available.
Baby teeth
Why is it important to take care of baby (primary) teeth?
Baby teeth help with proper chewing and eating and aid in speech development. Healthy baby teeth aid in normal development of jawbones and muscle and hold space for permanent teeth and help guide them into place. Decay on baby teeth can also lead to pain or infection, which can affect their permanent teeth and overall health.
When will my child get their first baby tooth?
Most children start getting their baby teeth around 5-6 months of age. The age in which the first tooth erupts can vary greatly. Some babies do not get their first tooth until after age one and others are born with teeth.
When will my child lose their first baby tooth?
The average age to start losing teeth is 6.
How long will my child have their baby teeth?
Most children lose their last baby tooth around age 12.
Dental Emergencies
What do I do in a dental emergency?
It is always important to contact us immediately if your child is experiencing dental pain or trauma. In most instances, we do not need to see the patient immediately, but there are times when it is imperative for a child to be seen as soon as possible.
What if my child displaces a tooth?
If you are able to help them gently move it back into the pre-trauma position, it is fine to do this. If you are unable to do this, just leave the area alone and immediately contact us to evaluate the area.
What if my child knocks out their tooth?
Find the tooth. If it is a baby tooth, do nothing and contact us to evaluate the area. If it is a permanent tooth, gently rinse any debris off the tooth and try to gently place the tooth in the socket. If you are unable to do this, place the tooth in cold milk. Contact us immediately.
What if my child cracks their tooth?
Find the tooth fragment if possible and save it. Then, contact us.
What if my child has a toothache?
If you can see food or debris trapped by a tooth, have your child rinse with water and then try to clean the area using a toothbrush and/or floss. Never place Aspirin on their gums. Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be given for pain. If there is swelling by the tooth, contact us immediately. This may be a sign of dental infection. If the swelling is severe and they are having difficulty opening or the swelling extends towards their eye or neck they will need to go to the Emergency Room.
Habits
Does thumb/finger habit affect dental development?
Yes, these habits greatly affect dental development. These habits are also very difficult for most children to stop. If your child is having difficulty stopping this habit, there are a variety of options to help them discontinue the habit.
Does using a pacifier affect dental development?
Yes, the use of a pacifier can affect dental development. Minimizing the use of a pacifier can help minimize the effects on dental development. Furthermore, the earlier the use of the pacifier is discontinued the less it will affect a child’s dental development.