prevention and education

Prevention and education are important in our practice, and we take seriously that you and your child need to understand how to take charge of and protect your child’s oral health. Dr. Greg and Dr. Kelsey and their staff are always available to answer questions about your child’s dental needs and the services we can provide for your child’s ideal treatment.

We offer a wide range of services to meet the needs of your child, including:

Comprehensive Examinations
Preventative Services
Restorative Procedures
Cosmetic Procedures

Surgical Procedures
Emergency Care
Habit & Athletic Appliances
Interceptive Orthodontics

Your child should have a comprehensive dental examination regularly, which includes a thorough examination of the teeth and gums. We use the findings from our examination to formulate a complete diagnosis and comprehensive treatment plan for your child.

Recommendations for treatment are explained at a consultation time set aside specifically for you and your child. The consultation can take place during the initial appointment. Our goal is to ensure that you receive the best possible information concerning your child’s treatment options. The time we invest in patient education enables us to deliver the best possible outcome for your child’s dental treatment. Our comprehensive, preventive approach helps to eliminate the need for more extensive dental work. Now that’s something to smile about!

more

A Child's Dental Emergency

Dental emergencies are injuries and traumas and facial swelling due to dental infection. In all instances, our office should be contacted as soon as possible. Follow these guidelines to address the dental emergency and make the child more comfortable:

more

a fractured or chipped tooth

Rinse gently with warm water to remove debris. If there is swelling, apply ice packs. Parents should call our office as soon as possible so that the injury can be assessed and any necessary care can be arranged. Bring the fragment, in milk if possible, to the appointment.

a knocked out (avulsed) permanent tooth

Gently rinse the tooth under running water and do not touch the root. Try to replace the tooth in its socket and hold it there with clean gauze. Otherwise, place it in a milk or saliva and call our office as soon as possible – this injury requires treatment immediately.

a knocked out (avulsed) baby tooth

Although not as urgent, please consult our office as soon as possible if a child’s baby tooth is knocked out. Do not re-implant a baby tooth.

sustains severe head or jaw trauma

Any blow to the head can be life-threatening; if any of these injuries are suspected, the child should be taken to the nearest emergency room.

favorite links

Kid's Crest

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

American Dental Association

Ohio Dental Association

Care Credit

Akron Children's Hospital

more

Frequently Asked Questions

They are the Pediatricians of dentistry. They provide both primary and comprehensive preventative and therapeutic oral health care for infants and children through adolescence, including those with special health care needs. After completing a four year dental school curriculum, 2-3 years of additional rigorous training are required for a pediatric dentist. This specialized program of study plus hands on experience prepares pediatric dentists to meet the needs of their patients.

Yes, Dr. Mertes and Dr Stehli are Board Certified Pediatric Dentists.

A Board Certified Pediatric Dentist has been certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry after successfully completing accredited training and a voluntary examination process designed to continually validate the knowledge, skills, and experience requisites to the delivery of high quality oral health care for infants, children, adolescents, and patients with special health care needs.

There is very little risk in dental x-rays. We are especially careful to limit the amount of radiation to which our patients are exposed. Lead aprons with thyroid collars and digital x-rays are used to ensure safety and minimize the amount of radiation. With these contemporary safeguards, as well as the following prescribing guidelines, the amount of radiation is extremely small. In fact, dental x-rays present a far smaller risk than undetected and untreated dental problems!

prevention and education

A Child's Dental Emergency

Dental emergencies are injuries and traumas and facial swelling due to dental infection. In all instances, our office should be contacted as soon as possible. Follow these guidelines to address the dental emergency and make the child more comfortable:

a fractured or chipped tooth

Rinse gently with warm water to remove debris. If there is swelling, apply ice packs. Parents should call our office as soon as possible so that the injury can be assessed and any necessary care can be arranged. Bring the fragment, in milk if possible, to the appointment.

a knocked out (avulsed) permanent tooth

Gently rinse the tooth under running water and do not touch the root. Try to replace the tooth in its socket and hold it there with clean gauze. Otherwise, place it in a milk or saliva and call our office as soon as possible – this injury requires treatment immediately.

a knocked out (avulsed) baby tooth

Although not as urgent, please consult our office as soon as possible if a child’s baby tooth is knocked out. Do not re-implant a baby tooth.

sustains severe head or jaw trauma

Any blow to the head can be life-threatening; if any of these injuries are suspected, the child should be taken to the nearest emergency room.

favorite links

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a pediatric dentist?

Are there board certified dentists on staff?

Yes, Dr. Mertes and Dr Stehli are Board Certified Pediatric Dentists.

When should my child start going to the dentist?

We recommend that a child first visit a Pediatric Dentist six month after the eruption of his or her first tooth (which is usually around 12 months). However, we generally see patients for the first time (on average) at 18-24 months of age.

Why are primary teeth important?

Primary teeth are important for many reasons. They help children speak clearly and chew naturally. They also aid in forming a path that permanent teeth can follow when they are ready to erupt.

How safe are dental x-rays?

When is the best time to start orthodontic treatment?

The best time to start Orthodontic Treatment depends on the severity and cause of the misalignment of your child’s teeth. Sometimes treatment begins when your child has a mixture of baby and permanent teeth and other times it begins after all the baby teeth have fallen out.