Superior Care
Dedicated

Dental Services

Helping Children Smile

Abilene Pediatric Dental Associates, PLLC, offers the Big Country some of the most knowledgeable dentists in the industry. From dental hygiene and pediatric dentistry to oral sedation and hospital treatments, you can trust us to help calm your children in treatment and instill oral health for a lifetime.

Pediatric Specialists

You won’t find pediatric dentists more comforting or qualified than ours. Our office staff, dental hygienists, and board-certified specialists have experience handling the most timid and energetic kids. We’ve all been educated in behavior management for children, which helps us make children and parents truly comfortable.

Our training is more specialized than general dentistry. We often treat children who’ve had negative experiences, are apprehensive about treatments, need special behavior management, or require extensive care. It is our vast experience in pediatrics that helps us calm nerves and provide excellent children’s dental care.

Children with Special Healthcare Needs (CSHCN)

Abilene Pediatric Dental is proud to serve families with disabilities and special needs. We believe in a family-oriented approach to dental care. No one understands your child’s needs more than you, and we will work with you to determine the best approach. Our goal is to prioritize a good experience for all children at their dental visit.

We work with children having a variety of special needs, which includes: Autism Spectrum Disorders, Sensory Disorders, Attention Deficit Disorder, Intellectual Disabilities, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Respiratory Diseases, Hearing and Visual Impairments, Cleft & Craniofacial Anomalies, and many other conditions.

Please call us ahead of time to help us accommodate your child. We want to hear how we can best serve your family.

Mindful Dentistry

The goal of our services is to monitor dental growth and instill best practices in children, ensuring they care for their teeth throughout life. All of our treatments and services are provided by caring doctors and staff, which is the key to successfully avoiding patient anxiety and traumatic dental experiences.

We treat the youngest patients, as well as preteens and teenagers, managing the concerns and behaviors of each age group. When it comes to pediatric dental services, we truly have your child’s interests at heart.

Our Dental Services Include

  • Infant & Toddler Dental Home Programs
  • Parent & Patient Oral Health Education
  • Advanced Behavior Guidance
  • Nitrous Oxide & Oxygen Sedations
  • Dental Extra-Oral & Intra-Oral Exams
  • Space Maintenance & Management
  • In-Office Conscious Sedation
  • Surgery Center or Hospital General Anesthesia
  • Restorative Treatment
  • Pediatric Oral Surgery
  • Digital Radiographs
  • Interceptive Orthodontics
  • Dental Cleanings
  • 24-Hour Emergency Care
  • Frenectomy Consults
  • Orthodontic Screening
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Important Information About Your Visit

Health History
Your child’s first visit will be a comprehensive exam to evaluate the patient’s overall oral health and medical history. At this appointment your child will receive an age-appropriate cleaning by one of our experienced dental hygienists. Doctors also will diagnose any oral health issues that may require treatment.

Dental X-Ray
The American Dental Association states the following: Radiation exposure associated with dentistry represents a minor contribution to the total exposure from all sources, including natural and man-made. This means that dental x-rays are safe.

All x-rays in our office are digital, which emit 70% less radiation than conventional film x-rays. At most exams, x-rays will be needed for our dentists to evaluate your child’s oral health, focusing on the bone and tooth structure under the gums.

Post Exam
We don’t believe in any surprises before or after exams. We will always keep you informed of how treatment appointments need to be scheduled, as well as the financial obligations, so you can make educated decisions. You can count on us to remind you of your appointments and any pre-appointment preparation.

Every Six Months
We will schedule your child for an exam and cleaning every six months to monitor dental growth. The goal of our services is to provide superior dental care and instill best practices in children for a lifetime. For more information about dental exams, call us today.

N20 or Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas)
For some treatments, our doctors use laughing gas to help calm your child. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recognizes nitrous oxide/oxygen inhalation as a safe and effective technique to reduce anxiety, produce analgesia, and enhance effective communication between a patient and health care provider.

Oral Sedation
Our doctors use various medications to sedate a child. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) states that Oral Sedation can help increase cooperation and reduce anxiety and/or discomfort associated with dental treatment.

Selection of medications is based upon your child’s overall health, level of anxiety, and dental treatment recommendations. Once administered, medications may take up to an hour before your child shows signs of sedation and is ready for dental treatment. Most children become relaxed and/or drowsy and may drift into a light sleep from which they can be aroused easily. Unlike general anesthesia, oral sedation is not intended to make a patient unconscious or unresponsive.

Some children may not experience relaxation but an opposite reaction such as agitation or crying. These also are common responses to the medicines and may prevent us from completing the dental procedures.

In any case, our staff will observe your child’s response to the medications and provide assistance as needed.

Hospital Treatment
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) states that some children and developmentally disabled patients require general anesthesia to receive comprehensive dental care in a safe and humane fashion.

We will never administer general anesthesia in the office. Our board-certified pediatric dentists are on staff at both Hendrick Medical Center and Abilene Regional Medical Center. They utilize pediatric anesthesia groups to treat the children safely in the hospital.