Dentistry For Kids, Ltd. Experience the fun! - Dr. Cissy Furusho - A Chicago, IL Pediatric Dentist

In the same way that pediatricians are trained to meet a child's medical needs, our pediatric dental specialists are uniquely qualified to protect your child's oral health, using the most advanced techniques in our delightfully friendly open treatment area. Pediatric dentists have an additional 2-3 years of training at an accredited residency program in addition to 4 years of dental school and 4 years of college study. We learn how to deal with the behavioral aspects of children , how to make them feel comfortable, and to make the experience pleasant in addition to clinical techniques. We are especially trained and qualified to treat patients with special needs.

For some children and parents, the first visit to the dentist can be a stressful situation. But there are ways that the dentist can make the occasion enjoyable for everyone concerned. Establishing trust between the child and the dentist is all-important because it is this relationship that sets a positive tone for the rest of your child's life.

Often mothers and fathers are more apprehensive than their children, so care must be taken not to be oversolicitous. For example, don't say things like "Don't worry," or "It won't hurt much." Children can sense their parent's discomfort. That is the reason why we prefer to meet the children away from their parents so that we can relate on a one-to-one basis with the child. The parent's presence in the treatment area, although intended to provide comfort to the child, instead indicates that the mom or dad is there to provide protection against these "strangers." In some cases, treatment can be seriously hindered. Obviously, as at home, the parents and the dentist should establish parameters of behavior commensurate with the child's age and development. The "show-tell-do" method is based on showing the patient what he already knows and then tying it in with something new - first the familiar and then the unfamiliar. "This is your toothbrush . . . and this is my toothbrush," or "Here is your mirror and this is my mirror." In this way, all the dental paraphernalia can be introduced without causing alarm.

Honesty is the best policy, and we are very much against the use of nitrous oxide, sedative drugs, general anesthesia, or papoose boards. Drugging or doping a child may make things easier for the dentist, but it does not cure phobias. Temporary escape from reality encourages a dependency on drugs and prevents the dentist and child from relating to each other in a positive way. Childhood is a time for positive learning. Our role as children's dentists is not merely to clean teeth or fill cavities, but also to "grow" fearless adult patients. Even Children who are mentally or physically compromised benefit from this nurturing and learning atmosphere.

Our atmosphere is imaginative and creative including a reception area with unusual toys and an open treatment area where several children can be together watching TV for entertainment and education and attended to by a staff with uninhibited personalities.

The extra effort to create this exciting environment makes a big difference, especially in the case of the very apprehensive family. Dentistry in reality is no longer a painful experience, but some of the old myths die hard.

By bringing your child to a pediatric dentist as early as age one year, you can ensure the timely prevention of dental disease and at the same time provide your child with an upbeat experience that can last a lifetime.

Thank you for choosing us to care for your most valuable possessions... your children.

Note: Since we frequently teach and lecture on dentistry for children around the country, we videotape some patients FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES. If this is a problem, please let us know.

When a child's teeth have been damaged by dental decay, trauma or congenital defects, we carefully consider several factors before making a decision as to how to fix those teeth. Some of these factors include the age of the child, how severely the tooth has been damaged, and in the case of a baby tooth, how long that tooth has to function in the mouth. The relative importance of esthetics versus durability often determines which filling material we use. In any case, we believe in doing a procedure once and doing it right.

Our decisions for treating your child are never based on finances or insurance especially if it compromises the quality of treatment your child receives. We will discuss all the options with you but we hope you trust us to choose the methods and materials that will provide the best long-term results for you and your children and that our recommendations will always be in the best interest of your child... who is Number One.