Special Child Dental Care in Hamburg, NY & The Southtowns

Dr. Casey's role in the community includes one as dental health educator. It is critical for children to learn how to maintain optimal dental health with regular dental visits, making smart decisions about the foods and drinks they consume, and proper home oral care routine.

February is Children's Dental Health month and each year Dr. Casey reaches hundreds of children while visiting multiple pre-schools, day cares and elementary schools. For over a decade, she has given dental health presentations at schools in the Hamburg, Frontier, and Orchard Park school districts. She has also made presentations on behalf of the SUNY at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine's Smile Education Day for twenty plus years.
Group of children - Dentist in Hamburg, NY
We have also had pre-doctoral dental students observe at the office when considering applying to a pediatric dental residency. College students have visited to observe the function of a private dental practice as a small business model. Dr. Casey has also participated are career fairs at local high schools.

Please contact the office if you would like Dr. Casey to give a dental health presentation to a student or youth group you are involved with.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What should I do in case of an emergency or mouth injury?

In case of injury, bleeding, pain, or infection, we will always see your child as soon as possible. If your child should injure a tooth, call the office immediately. We can decide whether immediate treatment is necessary. If a tooth is knocked out, place it in a cup of milk and call the office at once. Dr. Casey uses a cell # so she may be reached at any time if an emergency occurs after office hours.

Call the office at (716)648-4035 if you have a dental emergency.
tooth ache—tooth ache in Hamburg,NY

2. How to prepare your child for a dental visit?

You may discuss the positive aspects of dentistry with your child, but avoid fear-provoking words such as pain, drill, pull, shot or needle. We use words such as ‘feeling fuzzy” to describe numbness, “wash the tooth and paint it” for a filling and “wiggle or help out a tooth” for an extraction. Avoid statements like “the dentist won't hurt you,” but rather, say “the dentist will be very gentle while working.” At the time of the visit, we will prepare your child by explaining and showing him/her what will be done with age appropriate terms. Parents should try to appear relaxed and at ease because anxiety on your part will be sensed by your child. A parent or legal guardian must accompany your child to their initial appointment.
Dental Check-Up—cavity in Hamburg,NY

3. Why treat baby teeth?

It is important that the baby (primary) teeth stay healthy until they are lost naturally. The last baby (primary) teeth usually fall out at 10-12 years of age. They serve many functions including:
  • They permit your child to chew food easily and comfortably.
  • They hold space for the permanent teeth that will take their place.
  • They help to guide the eruption of the permanent teeth.
  • They are important for esthetics and keep you child's smile looking bright so your child can feel good about the way they look.
Cavities grow very quickly in primary teeth compared to permanent teeth. If cavities develop, it is important to take care of them quickly. This way they can be treated in the most conservative manner possible. If cavities get large, they are much more difficult to restore and will become painful for the child. Untreated decay on any tooth, permanent or primary, can lead to serious infections (abscess) requiring hospitalization and extraction of the involved tooth. If primary teeth are lost early due to infection, a space maintainer will be required to hold the space for the permanent replacement.
Animated tooth - Dentist in Hamburg, NY

4. How does a pediatric dentist help with dental anxiety?

First of all, pediatric dental offices are designed to make children feel comfortable. Pediatric dentists have special training in helping anxious children feel secure during dental treatment. For example, in the “Tell-Show-Do” technique, a pediatric dentist might name a dental instrument, demonstrate the instrument by using it to count your child's fingers, and then apply the instrument in treatment. Infants and some young children may feel more confident when parents stay close during treatment. However, with older children, doctor-child communication is often enhanced if parents remain in the reception room. Sedation is not necessary for all patients. However, if your child has a high level of anxiety, is very young, has a strong gag reflex, or has a low pain tolerance, sedation might be recommended. It is also sometimes needed for children with special needs or for children who are to undergo extensive dental treatment. We offer nitrous oxide sedation/ laughing gas in the office and general anesthesia in a hospital setting. Our staff members are people who like children and have chosen to work with them. This combination ensures that most children are calm, comfortable and confident in our office.
Little girl at clinic - Dentist in Hamburg, NY