Fredericksburg Parent

36 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • November 2022 In his 28-year career as an orthodontist, Dr. Ali Ghatri has never lost the thrill of watching a patient see their new smile for the first time at the end of treatment. "That gives me a tremendous amount of satisfaction, that I could do something for somebody who can have that beauti- ful smile forever," he says. In the early years of his practice, Dr. Ghatri observed how much work parents put in to keep up with referrals among dentists, orthodontists and oral surgeons. As his own prac- tice grew, he decided to make things easier. "Families are busy with kids' after school activities, work and busy lives," he says. "By having these related services under one roof, I thought it would add convenience." His idea led to the 2012 launch of Let's Smile, a multi-spe- cialty practice that provides a variety of dental services from eight locations in Fredericksburg and Northern Virginia. In Let's Smile's Fredericksburg office on Chatham Heights Road in Stafford County, patients can see pediatric dentists, orthodontists and oral surgeons. Having worked with families and children for nearly three decades, Dr. Ghatri carefully selects pediatric dentists, ortho- dontists, oral surgeons, clinicians and staff members who share his passion for focusing on patients' needs and con- stantly improving in their specialties. Is a One-stop Shop For Your Child's Dental Health Pediatric dentists set children up for a lifetime of oral health The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children have their first visit with a dentist shortly after their first tooth appears, or by age 1—whichever is earliest. This is because tooth decay is prevalent among American children, and it starts early. A 2016 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 21% of children ages 2 through 5 had cavities. Bringing your child in for an early dental visit can vastly reduce their chances of having tooth decay as they get older. But especially for young children, the idea of coming into an office and sitting in a chair under lights and seeing lots of metal instru- ments can be scary. That's why Dr. Ghatri has brought pediatric dentistry into his practice. "When a child goes into an environment that is unknown, he or she may have some fear or anxiety. The team in a pediatric dentistry office is a lot more capable of getting down to their level, being playful, showing videos, playing games, having murals on the walls to help them relax and reduce their stress," he says. "This is key to being able to provide good dental care at this age." In those early visits, pediatric dentists can identify problems such as a tongue tie, which can cause issues with growth and breath- ing. Those early visits also help educate parents as to how best to encourage good dental health at home, Dr. Ghatri says. This often means fewer cavities as children get older. WRITTEN BY EMILY FREEHLING SPONSORED MATERIAL

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