Top Children’s Dentistry in the Northern Virginia
Many children in the Northern Virginia area dread going to the dentist. When you were a kid, you probably felt the same way. As a parent, though, taking your child to the dentist’s office for routine checkups and cleanings is important. After all, it helps ensure a healthier, more beautiful smile as they grow older. Maybe getting your child to the dentist is something you now dread too — have you considered a dentist who specializes in working with children? At Merrifield Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Monamie Ghatak is a board-certified pediatric dentist, and she only sees patients under age 18.
Why Choose a Top-Rated Pediatric Dentist?
After finishing dental school, a top-rated pediatric dentist like Dr. Ghatak completed two more years of specialized training. This training focused on the unique care needs of infants, children and adolescents, including those with special health considerations. As a mother, Dr. Ghatak fully understands the importance of starting an oral hygiene program early in life, and that program includes routine cleanings, checkups and cavity prevention education.
For newborns to age 18, Dr. Ghatak uses a personalized and modern approach to children’s dentistry. This includes minimally invasive techniques and bioactive, BPA and mercury-free materials whenever possible. In addition, at Merrifield Pediatric Dentistry, we make it fun and educational to visit the dentist, so that your child will want to come back year after year!
Our Pediatric Dental Services
You and your children can relax in the boutique-like environment of either office, in Dunn Loring or Arlington. Specifically, we provide the following pediatric dental services for children and teens:
Preventative & Diagnostic Care
- Cleanings: Regular checkups and teeth cleanings are essential for keeping your child’s mouth healthy as they grow. They also help us catch potential problems early. At Merrifield Pediatric Dentistry, our team makes your child’s visits fun and educational!
- Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF): SDF is a safer form of fluoride, now approved for use in the U.S. We use it because it has shown positive results in very young patients around the world. Overall, SDF is a proven, safe and non-invasive way to stop cavities from progressing in your child’s mouth.
- Preventative Dentistry: At Merrifield Pediatric Dentistry, it’s always our goal to teach your child good oral hygiene habits starting at an early age. This includes cavity prevention.
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea Screenings: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is hard to diagnose in children. Even so, it can cause daytime attention and behavioral issues. Because of this, Dr. Ghatak has received specialized training that allows her to perform pediatric OSAS screenings in our office.
Restorative Treatments
- BPA-free Sealants & Fillings: Dr. Ghatak only uses sealants and fillings containing resins free from bisphenol A (BPA). This is because many commercial plastics and resins contain BPA, and several recent studies suggest it can harm humans. For reference, dental sealants are thin protective coatings we apply to the chewing surfaces of hard-to-reach back molars, where tooth decay often develops in children and teens.
- Stainless Steel Crowns: In certain situations, like after a pulpotomy for nerve damage, Dr. Ghatak may recommend a stainless steel crown instead of a filling to repair a damaged tooth’s surface. Notably, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) approves stainless steel crowns for use in children.
- Bonding: This involves adding tooth-colored filling material to an underdeveloped tooth, or one that has experienced trauma. Ultimately, the goal is to restore its intended look and function.
- Pulpotomies: A type of pulp therapy, Dr. Ghatak sometimes performs a pulpotomy when trauma or decay has seriously damaged a tooth’s root. Afterward, she typically uses a stainless steel crown to cap off the repaired tooth.
- Bioactive Materials (MTA): Dr. Ghatak prefers to use “bioactive” endodontic cement, or mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), for root procedures like a pulpotomy. In fact, research shows it speeds up healing. MTA cement contains calcium and silicate and is very safe to use in children.
- Extractions: This involves removing, or “pulling,” a tooth completely. Typically, we do this due to infection, serious decay, or to create space when teeth overcrowding occurs.
Comfort, Growth, & Behavior Support
- Space Maintainers: This temporary appliance discourages one or more teeth from moving or drifting into open areas that missing teeth leave behind.
- Habit Counseling: Most kids outgrow habits like thumb-sucking and pacifier use on their own. When those habits persist, though, they can negatively affect a child’s normal teeth and jaw development. As a result, we provide habit counseling support to parents, which may include a mouth appliance in certain situations.
- Laughing Gas: Laughing gas, or nitrous oxide, is one of the safe and reliable sedation methods we use to relax non-cooperative children. Throughout the process, the child remains awake, and their body fully eliminates the laughing gas before heading home.
Join Us for Our Monthly Play Group
Your child’s first introduction to dentistry doesn’t have to be a scary one! Instead, we make sure to engage children in fun activities and leave a positive impact in and out of their dental visits.
Parents love coming to the monthly play group at our office, and children love it even more. Overall, we put smiles on their faces and help you keep them there.
Board-Certified Pediatric Dentistry
Because every child’s smile is unique, we deliver all our children’s dentistry services with a personalized and modern approach. As a one-dentist practice, our goal is to deliver top-quality care in a relaxed and comfortable setting. That way, your child can have the beautiful, natural-looking smile they truly deserve! To schedule an appointment with board-certified pediatric dentist Dr. Monamie Ghatak, please call us today at: 571-293-1668.
