Fredericksburg Parent

12 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • February 2024 This list represents the informa on gathered in mid-January by Fredericksbsurg Parent staff. Please double check our informa on. We thank the den sts who responded to our survey. Dental prac ces are welcome to contact Leigh Anne Van Doren at leighanne@fredericksburgparent.net to amend, correct or add to their lis ngs online at www.fredericksburgparent.net/guides Dental GUIDE Chloe was four when she was strapped onto a board cushioned by a Disney Princess sleeping bag at her dentist's office. She was about to have her tooth pulled without anesthesia, and her mom had been left in the waiting room, forbidden from staying with her during the procedure. Chloe was secured in something called a papoose board, a device sometimes used by dentists. To this day she remembers her fear and dreads the dentist. Although many parents may be unfamiliar with it, the papoose board isn't new; it's been used by dentists since the mid-1950s as a behavior management tool. For patient safety, dentists use a myriad of behavior management techniques and tools to help see their patients through an experience that they physically resist. It's an unpleasant fact that some children (and adult patients, such as special needs) can potentially hurt themselves during uncomfort- able and unfamiliar dental care, and this is one option that can make necessary dental care possible. Other Behavior Management options you may be more familiar with are conscious sedation, such as laughing gas (for children it's often used in tandem with the papoose board) as well as general anesthe- sia, which comes with its own inherent set of risks (and why many parents opt for the papoose). It's important for parents to know, however that if a papoose board is necessary, it's very important that they stay with their children during the procedure, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. After many negative studies on papoose boards came out in the 90s detailing the trauma some children experi- enced, the Academy established guidelines and best practices for papoose use.First, they recommend dentists have specific training beyond what they learn in dental school. They also require informed consent from the parent and that this conversation (not just an initialed medical form) should occur on a day other than treatment day. In addition, they've determined that parental presence is best, and can reduce anxiety with both child and parent. Finally, they call for a dentist to terminate a procedure as soon as possible if the child is not tolerating the papoose board well. Using a dentist who was aligned with those recommendations, another local mom, Skylar Renee, had a completely different experi- ence than Chloe and her mom. Her son Alexander, then 14 months old, was put in a papoose at his dentist's office when he had to undergo a procedure to remove a lip tie (a piece of tissue inside your upper lip that attaches to your gums). She recounts, "He cried from being held down, but overall, he handled it very well. They did let me go back with him. The entire experience was reassuring for both me and Alexander. Knowing he was secure with the papoose board and safe, and him knowing that I was right there with him to comfort him". So, should you be concerned if your dentist suggests a papoose for certain dental treatments? No, a papoose board can be both effec- tive and without trauma as well as the best viable option for big procedures, especially if you don't want to use anesthesia. But being familiar with it and having your dentist be both informative and caring can make the difference between a good experience and a bad one. All Tied Up WRITTEN BY ANN BOWER HERREN Papooses In Pediatric Dental Care FREDERICKSBURG DENTISTS Baby 2 Teens Pediatric Den stry 221 Park Hill Drive, F'burg 22401 540-228-9200 info@baby2teenspediatricden stry.com Blue Bird Den stry √ 200 Execu ve Center Pkwy, Ste 104 F'burg 22401 • 540-373-1641 einahassdds@gmail.com Central Park Dental 1340 Central Park Blvd., STE 200, F'burg 22401 • 540-786-9559 centralparkdental@comcast.net Fredericksburg Family Den stry *√ 1740 Carl D Silver Parkway F'burg 22401 • 540-548-8878 ddsfredericksburg@gmail.com Fredericksburg Smile Center 2330 Plank Road, F'burg 22401 540-854-1085 bigsmile@smilefredericksburg.com Pediatric Den stry of Fredericksburg 1300 Thornton St. #101, F'burg 22401 540-371-3222 • teeth@pdoff.com Serene Smiles of Fredericksburg 433 Bridgewater St, F'burg 22401 540-824-3874 Reform Den stry 10009 Southpointe Parkway #201B F'burg 22407 • 540-237-1700 info@reformden stry.com Trahos Dental 607 Amelia St. F'burg 22401 • 540-371-6700 info@normantrahosdds.com Virginia Dental & Anethiesia Associate √ 1420 Central Park Blvd #201 F'burg 22401 • 540-786-0696 vdaamgr@gmail.com SPOTSYLVANIA DENTISTS D&D Family Den stry 5830 Harrison Road, F'burg 22407 540-739-7589 abby@ddaesthe cden stry.com Dr. Allen and Tatem 10705 Spotsylvania Ave. #102 F'burg 22408 • 540-891-5521 contact@allenandtatem.com Dr. Michael Morch 6308 5 Mile Centre Park F'burg 22407 •540-785-2558 michaelmorchdds@gmail.com Family First Dental Dr. Vernon Williams 4425 Plank Road, Suite B F'burg 22401 • 540-786-1212 info@yourfamiyfirstdental.com Fredericksburg Pediatric Den stry 927 Maple Grove Drive Suite 111 F'burg 22407 540-786-0051 Freedom Family Den stry 10038 Jefferson Davis Hwy F'burg 22407 • 540-898-8998 Gentle Touch Family and Cosme c Den stry 4147 Plank Road, F'burg 22407 540-785-3161 Hilltop Dental Studio 10466 Georgetown Spotsylvania 22553 • 540-898-8181 office@hilltopdentalstudio.com Pine Den stry 3533 Plank Road, F'burg 22407 540-736-4913 contactpine@pineden stry River Club Dental Care 10861 Tidewater Trail, F'burg 22408 540-371-7684 Southpointe Quality Dental Fredericksburg 5100 Southpointe Pkwy F'burg 22407 • 540-710-1088 info@qualitydentalva.com Spotsy Dental Care 9821 Patriot Highway F'burg 22407 • 540-479-2764 info@spotsydentalcare.com VA Smiles 10608 Leavells Rd., F'burg 22407 540-710-6000 Fredericksburg#luvthatsmile * Accepts Medicaid √ Allows parent to stay with child parent fredericksburg & family

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