Kid's Dentist Santa Fe and Vision Care

Providing high-quality, affordable dental care for kids in Santa Fe is what we do best! A child’s first dentist visit should occur after their first tooth emerges or by their first birthday, whichever comes first. Getting an early start on oral care habits puts your child on the healthiest path. We look forward to being your kid's dentist Santa Fe!

Sometimes brushing just isn’t enough, and kids need regular professional cleanings. During dental cleanings, we use special tools and skills to remove plaque from hard-to-reach spots. We also check for early signs of tooth decay so that we can treat any issues that arise before they become a more serious problem. For children who are more susceptible to tooth decay, fluoride treatments and sealants are necessary to protect and maintain the strength of their teeth.

Dental x-rays are tools that allow dentists to monitor oral development and check for any potential diseases or decay that can impact your child’s dental health. Dental x-rays are special because they reveal areas of the teeth that are invisible during dental cleanings.

Fluoride gives your teeth the nutrients they need to stay healthy! Fluoride is a natural mineral that protects teeth from decay and maintains tooth strength. During regular dental visits, we paint a concentrated fluoride varnish directly onto tooth/teeth surfaces that need protection. Fluoride is beneficial throughout a child’s life, and it is an important part of healthy dental hygiene.

The most basic form of tooth decay is cavities, especially for toddlers and children. A cavity develops plaque builds up and eats at the tooth enamel. This creates a hole in the tooth called a cavity. Sometimes cavities are hard to prevent, but proper dental hygiene, a healthy diet, and biannual dental cleanings are the best defense. When a cavity is found, the dentist removes the decay and fills in the hole with a filling.

Dental sealants protect teeth against harmful bacteria and tooth decay. Even with excellent oral hygiene, the grooves on the surfaces of molars are vulnerable to collections of food and bacteria that can potentially lead to decay. Dental sealants give teeth an extra layer of protection, and they are an important part of preventative oral care.

Dental crowns are placed on top of damaged teeth that need to be restored to their correct size and shape. Sometimes a filling is not enough to restore a tooth that is decayed or compromised. In this circumstance, dental crowns are needed! A dental crown is applied in one appointment using some form of anesthetic.

There are times when a tooth needs to be extracted. These cases include when a tooth is extensively damaged or decayed, when a baby tooth needs help coming out, and when additional room is needed in the mouth in preparation for orthodontic treatment.

In every dental procedure and at every visit, we want to minimize potential distress to keep kids calm and comfortable. Dental sedation helps kids feel relaxed. Select locations provide dental sedation options, and a referral is required.

Teeth can accidentally chip or break during play. Thankfully, we have ways to fix chips and breaks! Contact your dentist immediately if your child has a broken tooth. During the emergency visit, the dentist will examine the child’s mouth. Sometimes, the tooth fragment can be reattached. If you are able to locate the chipped tooth fragment, put it in a bag with water or saline and bring it to the dentist's office. If the tooth fragment can’t be found, there are additional ways to repair the tooth.

Good news families! Medicaid and most dental insurance plans cover two dental cleanings and checkups per year. Regular dental checkups are important for maintaining oral health. Book an appointment with us for your child today!

An eye exam by a children's optometrist is an important part of your child's health.

Regular eye exams are crucial for preparing babies, kids, and teens for educational, social, and developmental success. Vision issues can cause kids to struggle with school, sports, their peers, and daily activities. A vision check-up is a great way to make sure your child is healthy and prepared for success.

If your child has a hard time focusing on things in the distance, they may have Myopia. Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a refractive disorder that makes it difficult to see objects far away, while things up close are crystal clear. The symptoms can include:

• Blurred vision when looking at objects at a distance

• Squinting

• Eyestrain

• Eye fatigue when looking at objects far away

Nearsightedness can impact a child’s safety, education, and socialization. Thankfully eyeglasses, contact lenses, or eye surgery can correct nearsightedness. Take your child to routine eye exams to detect potential issues and help them stay healthy.

If things are too close for comfort, your child may have Hyperopia. Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is a common condition that makes objects close up difficult to see, while objects far away are clearly focused. With farsightedness, the light rays in the eyes focus behind the surface of the retina instead of directly on the retina, which makes close-up objects blurry. The symptoms may include:

• Blurred vision

• Trouble focusing on things close by

• Eyestrain

• Eye fatigue

• Headaches when performing tasks close-up

Farsightedness can impact a child’s self-esteem and educational abilities. Thankfully it is easy to correct with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or surgery. Book an appointment for a vision exam to make sure your child is prepared for success!

Astigmatism is a common condition that makes objects blurry, regardless of distance. With astigmatism, the eye isn’t able to focus because it is not completely round. Kids with astigmatism often perceive the blurriness as normal, which makes it difficult to diagnose. The symptoms can include:

• Blurred Vision

• Distorted Vision

• Eyestrain

• Headaches

Like other common eye issues, astigmatism can impact safety, socialization, and school performance. Thankfully astigmatism can be treated with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or surgery. Make an appointment for an eye exam to make sure your child is prepared for success!

A lazy eye is called Amblyopia. In amblyopia, one eye does not properly reflect light which causes it to underperform. When a child has a lazy eye, their body follows the direction of the normally performing eye which can impact depth perception. Symptoms can include:

• Issues with depth perception

• Frequently squinting or shutting one eye

• Tilting head to focus

For the most effective and simple treatment, early detection is key. To set your child up for success, schedule a routine eye exam today!

Cross eyes, or strabismus, is a relatively common eye condition in which the eyes are sometimes misaligned. With strabismus, the eye's muscles are out of sync which causes the eyes to look in different directions. If left unaddressed, strabismus can result in a lazy eye or cause other types of vision problems. Thankfully there are a few different treatment options. If you are concerned your child has cross-eyes, book an appointment for an eye exam.

Many parents struggle to get their children to wear eyeglasses. Thankfully we carry over 350 Medicaid-approved frames to ensure your child can find the perfect pair to suit their age, size, fashion, and lifestyle. We want every child to feel cool, confident, and comfortable when wearing eyeglasses!

We don’t want any child to struggle with learning challenges due to undetected vision problems. If your child is experiencing vision issues, we can help. We accept Medicaid and most insurance plans so that your child can have regular vision check-ups and glasses at little or no cost to parents.

To fix jaw alignment and teeth spacing, orthodontic braces are a great solution! Braces offer many positive side effects. They can boost your child or teen’s confidence and self-esteem, and they improve overall oral health, including:

• Improve ability to chew food

• Alleviate speech impairment

• Make brushing, cleaning, and flossing teeth easier

• Reduce the risk of cavities and periodontal disease

• Reduce the occurrence of grinding and chipping teeth

• Reduce the risk of injury from protruding teeth

Braces can lay the foundation for a lifetime of improved oral health and help you and your children look their best!

To create a perfect smile, the first step is to find the right braces. Based on your treatment plan, cost, and desired appearance, we can help you choose the right type of braces. There are several different types of braces to choose from:

• Traditional Metal Braces are the most common type of braces, particularly for kids and teens. They are affordable and highly effective. Orthodontists can easily and accurately adjust metal braces during monthly visits. Kids and teens get to choose fun elastic band colors to achieve a look they love!

• Ceramic or Porcelain Braces function similarly to metal braces, but the brackets and wires are designed to be less noticeable. The brackets and wires are colored to blend in with the teeth. These braces are more expensive than metal braces, and they require extra cleaning to prevent discoloration. If you are looking for a less noticeable orthodontic treatment, ceramic or porcelain braces may be a great option for you.

• Removable Aligners are a popular choice. This solution consists of transparent trays that rest on top of teeth and can be removed for meal times and other activities. Removable aligners are more expensive than metal braces, and they are not designed to correct significant bite problems. They are not usually recommended for children because they require an additional level of personal responsibility. If you are looking for a less noticeable way to correct alignment issues, and you keep up with the required care, this solution may be right for you.

Medicaid and other insurance plans recognize the importance of braces for oral health. Depending on your orthodontic needs and insurance plan, your provider may potentially cover the entire cost of orthodontic treatment. After an orthodontic evaluation, Medicaid will determine coverage. If you have private insurance, you need to contact your insurance provider to learn about your orthodontic coverage options.

If you do not have insurance, don’t worry! For adults and children who do not have insurance coverage, we offer a variety of affordable payment plans. Our orthodontic coordinators can work with you to review the options and determine a plan that works for you and your family.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child is screened before they turn seven. By their seventh birthday, it will be clear whether or not your child has any jaw alignment problems, overcrowding, overbite or underbite, crossbite, or other orthodontic issues that may impact their mouth. An early orthodontic evaluation is important because it is the best way to quickly determine if braces are needed and choose the best treatment plan.