We Welcome Children of All Ages!
We are here to provide children with a caring, positive, and healthy environment to start their dental journey.
Cleanings can protect your family’s smiles
Children's Dentist in Topeka KS
At Topeka Dentistry, welcoming new families to our warm and friendly practice is one of the best parts of our job. Our Topeka, KS family dentists Dr. Carrie Peterson and Dr. Ben Rutherford know that healthy oral habits start young. Proper dental care is vital for every member of your family, and we are here to help keep your children’s teeth healthy and strong.
Common Childhood Oral Problems
Cavities are the most common deep-rooted childhood obstacle. Studies indicate that one in every four children has at least one cavity by the age of four.
What are cavities?
Cavities occur when the protective enamel surface becomes damaged, creating tiny holes. Many things can result in damaged teeth, including a build-up of plaque (a thin, sticky film full of harmful bacteria that adheres to your teeth), lots of sugary food and drinks, poor oral hygiene, and more.
Children tend to be at higher risk for tooth decay due to their love of sweets, and fine motor skills that are still developing. At Topeka Dentistry, we urge parents to bring their children in to see us.
Why It's Crucial to Care for Baby Teeth
One of our goals for early dental visits is to allow your child to gradually gain positive reinforcement about taking care of their teeth. We make dental visits gentle and fun, and our goal is to encourage your daughter or son to get to know and trust us at their own pace.
Oral health doesn’t have to be a chore and can actually be a fun family adventure.
Another primary goal is to create a consistent habit by seeing your child every six months. This provides a stable routine and allows Dr. Rutherford or Dr. Peterson to monitor their dental health. Prevention is the best treatment.
Baby teeth are important to help practice oral habits and allowing them to fall out naturally without disrupting their natural progression.
Procedures That Protect Your Child's Teeth
As your child becomes comfortable with dental cleanings and check-ups, we may start recommending treatments to keep their teeth and gums vibrant. Some common treatments include:
- Fluoride – Acid naturally happens after we eat or drink and increases the risk of cavities. Fluoride treatments fight against bacteria or acid that can weaken the enamel.
- Dental sealants – Prevention is our best bet for keeping your child’s mouth healthy. Sealants act like a protective layer that seals out bacteria. We may recommend this if your child has rough or uneven surfaces where bacteria can easily hide.
Is Your Child Ready for Their First Dental Visit?
Our doctors enjoy their youngest patients and treat them with the same attentiveness and kindness that they would want for their own families.
Please call Topeka Dentistry to schedule a first visit to our warm and friendly dental office.
The staff at Topeka Dentistry are the best!
I used to stress about going to the dentist. No more. The staff at Topeka Dentistry are the best! They are great to patients and are very good about making sure I know everything they are doing in my mouth and ensuring I don’t have any pain…my favorite part.
– Jeffrey D.
Frequently Asked Questions
At Topeka Dentistry, we believe dental care should be a family affair, so we strive to provide the best dentistry for both you and your family under one roof. And when it comes to caring for the littlest teeth, we have numerous ways to keep your kids’ teeth healthy and strong, but one of the most effective is consistency. This is why we recommend seeing your kids routinely, at least twice a year.
The Benefits of Routine Dental Care
Among our goals for early dental visits is cultivating a positive relationship between your child and dentistry so they can enjoy a lifetime of oral health. We make dental visits gentle and fun, and we will move at their unique pace regarding their first experiences. We aim to create a trusting relationship with each family member and to make dental visits something everyone looks forward to, like a fun family adventure.
Another primary goal is to use their routine visits to uncover potential problems. Because prevention is the best treatment, we offer services like fluoride rinses and dental sealants, both of which help hold off tooth decay and prevent cavities.
Finally, routine visits help us instill good at-home care habits and practice them on their baby teeth. We will monitor their growth and progress so that their baby teeth fall out naturally and their permanent teeth come in strong.
Early appointments help your child trust the dental setting, and we work to make their time with us fun. To be honest, we’re not happy unless our dental office is a place your child looks forward to visiting!
At Topeka Dentistry, we like to see your child within six months of the first tooth. Of course, if you have concerns before that time, we’re happy to take a look. Your child’s first exams will be about counting teeth and making sure everything is coming in correctly. We’ll be checking jaw development and more.
As your child grows, we’ll add age-appropriate services to help ensure a healthy smile from the very beginning. Before you know it, counting teeth will graduate to teeth cleanings.
We will also show you the best ways to care for your child’s teeth between dental visits. We’ll provide tips, answer your questions, and address your concerns. If we’re caring for your child’s teeth during routine dental visits, we understand that you’re doing it in the interim. Your child’s oral health is a team effort between you and your child’s dentist.
For Children’s Dentistry in Topeka, Contact Us
We can’t wait to meet you and your child. Reach out today to schedule the first exam.
We care for little smiles everywhere, including Topeka, Tecumseh, and Berryton.
Going to the dentist can cause stress and anxiety in many adults, so it’s no wonder that many children are fearful when it’s time for dental exams or other dental treatments. So, how can you address your child’s fears and make dental visits more pleasant for everyone? Keep reading to learn more.
Addressing Your Child’s Fears about Visiting the Dentist
There are some things you can do to help alleviate your child’s fear or anxiety about visiting the dentist. Consider these suggestions:
Positive reinforcement – Make teeth brushing fun at home by singing songs and giving rewards for good oral hygiene. This can make dental visits less scary for your child.
Take a toy – Allowing your child to bring their favorite toy or comfort item to the dentist can make dental visits go more smoothly.
Read books – Many books are designed to help kids who are afraid of the dentist.
Role play – Let your child pretend to be the dentist; use toy dental tools to make it more fun.
Choose the right dentist – Find a dental team that understands your child’s anxiety and knows how to handle it.
Do You Need a Topeka Children and Family Dentist?
If your child suffers from dental anxiety, and you want a kid’s dentist in Topeka who can help, give us a call! At Topeka Dentistry, we love working with children, and we can help alleviate their fears and get them the dental care they need. Contact our dental office at (785) 266-9100 to schedule an appointment.
Meet Our Doctors:
Dr. Carrie B Peterson DDS Owner, Dentist
Although Carrie was born in Texas, she was raised in Southwest, KS. She has lived in Lawrence since 2000 and graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelors Degree …
Dr. Benjamin Rutherford DDS Owner, Dentist
Dr. Rutherford was born and raised right here in Topeka, so he’s always willing to give out recommendations if you ask. He earned his undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree from …
Featured Blog Posts - Children's Dentistry
Schedule Your Child’s First Dental Visit with Us