Childrens Dentistry

Children's Dentistry – also known as Pediatric Dentistry or Pedodontist – is a specialty focus of dentistry pertaining to the oral health care of children. This includes a variety of techniques and procedures modified and adapted to the unique requirements of infants, children, teens and those with special health care needs. The goal of children's dentistry is to provide early preventative and instructional care to parents and children to establish a foundation for a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

Any licensed family dentist may examine and treat a child's dental health. At Brent J. Porter D.D.S., your Santa Cruz Pediatric Dentist, we make children the sole focus of our practice. We are quite accustomed to working in a very small mouth! Dr. Porter spent an additional two years beyond dental school, specially training to treat children. Specializing in children's dentistry requires an understanding of the primary teeth, as well as, the general oral health habits that most children practice at home. Children often visit pediatric dentists throughout childhood and into adolescence.

As a specialist, we provide behavioral guidance and early treatment options for children who are experiencing oral health complications. We enjoy motivating our patients to become better brushers and flossers! We simultaneously provide supervision of orofacial growth and development. In addition, we provide care of the medically and developmentally compromised and disabled patient, as well as, sedation dentistry.

Although children’s primary teeth eventually fall out, they serve several important purposes and should be preserved with a healthy oral care routine. This includes a regular dental check-ups and cleanings every six months, beginning when the first tooth erupts. For more information, please see the following topics to learn more about pediatric dentistry and how to care for your child’s teeth.

• Tooth Eruption
• Primary Teeth
• Cavity Prevention
• Dental Emergency Care
• Nitrous Oxide Relaxation
• Tooth Colored Dental Filings
• Pulp Therapy for Kids
• Sedation for Children
• Post-Op Instructions

Please contact our friendly team today if you have questions or would like to schedule a visit with Brent J. Porter D.D.S., Santa Cruz Children’s Dentist at (831) 459-9802. We look forward to hearing from you!