Pediatric Dentistry in Greeley, CO

One thing we love here at Norco Family Dental is working with children of all ages. Our dentists and staff have a passion for kids' dental care and helping the youngest family members learn excellent dental habits early on. We offer a friendly environment serving infants, children, and teens in Greeley, CO, and the surrounding areas, Evans, Windsor, Severance, and LaSalle.

Between the two of them, Dr. BJ Stewart and Dr. Shawn Buffington have nine kids of their own! Both have years of practice experience with kids and are incredibly comfortable with them. Their interest and attention often allow our dentists to work with children who might not otherwise sit for treatment.

We invite you to learn more about caring for your child's smile at our family-centered dental practice by reading below. To schedule a pediatric dental appointment in Greeley, please call us at (970) 356-5277 or by using our online contact form. 

• Early Childhood Dental Care
• Your Child's First Visit to our Pediatric Dentists
• Children's Orthodontics
• Schedule a Visit at Our Pediatric Dentists in Greeley, CO

Early Childhood Dental Care

From six months up to 12 years of age, children possess mainly baby teeth. Also known as deciduous teeth, they are smaller and softer than adult teeth, with shorter roots. When your child's first teeth come in, we recommend planning their first visit. This early childhood dental care helps maintain their dental health as they grow.

Like adult teeth, baby teeth are prone to cavities and should be maintained through brushing and flossing. Additionally, we want to help you avoid "baby bottle tooth decay," common in young children who drink large quantities of milk, juice, and other sweetened beverages. Though temporary, baby teeth need to stay healthy so that permanent ones can develop at the right time.

To help maintain baby teeth clean, you can:

• Supervise tooth brushing, or for the very young, brush their teeth for them.
• Make home-care fun with a toothbrush featuring their favorite cartoon or sparkly toothpaste.
• Make it routine, gathering the family to brush and floss together.

Along with development, routine dental visits help your children establish a positive relationship with oral health care. You may reinforce that with your daily brushing and flossing routine.

Also, consider a small reward system for successful tooth brushing or dental visits, such as a trip to the pool or watching a favorite movie. Finally, initiate positive conversations about the dentist while at home. By visiting the dentist early on, we can help kids develop good habits for the rest of their lives. A little effort at the beginning goes a long way!

One of our essential pediatric dentistry practices is spending considerable effort getting to know your child and making the treatment environment feel safe before performing any procedures. We believe this promotes a relationship leading to a lifetime of positive regard, and with little kids, trust is paramount! 

We refer to your initial dental appointments as "happy visits" and use them to grow trust with your child. Our doctors will show them instruments, give stickers and prizes, and count their teeth. Then, as confidence builds, we can take x-rays and conduct exams to ensure we catch any issues early. 

After your child's first dental exam, they will need to return regularly for routine dental checkups. After that, children, just like adults, should see the dentist at least twice each year for maintenance visits. We will monitor your child's smile for any signs of cavities, wisdom tooth growth, gum disease, or orthodontic needs during these dental appointments. 

Children's Orthodontics

Many parents wonder about braces and when (or if) they should take their child to visit an orthodontist. At Norco Family Dental, we work closely with most orthodontists in Greeley, and we do our best to take advantage of windows of growth to ensure the best orthodontic care.

For example, your child's mandible and maxilla growth from ages seven to nine allow us to correct overbites and underbites easily. In addition, because we generally place braces when all permanent teeth are grown in, a consultation with an orthodontist well before this time ensures that we can perform the needed treatment at the proper time. 

If you have questions about orthodontics in Greeley or need a referral for a specific orthodontist in the area, we're happy to work with you. 

Schedule a Visit with Our Pediatric Dentists in Greeley, CO!

At Norco Family Dental, we work hard to make visiting the dentist an enjoyable experience for your family because we want to set our patients up for dental success. So, if you have questions about your child's brushing or flossing habits or want to discuss your oral health concerns with a children's dentist, contact our Greeley, CO dental office at (970) 356-5277 to arrange a convenient time to stop by for a visit – you'll be glad you did!