Services

INFANT EXAM

While babies do not have many teeth, it is important they see a dentist within six months of the first tooth coming into the mouth or by their first birthday. As a parent, you want to ensure your child’s teeth and gums are healthy and developing properly. By establishing a dental home at an early age, you will assist your child in developing good dental habits and will build a solid foundation for a positive dental outlook throughout life.

As pediatric dentists, we are the “pediatricians of the mouth” and have received at least two years of additional training to provide specialized care for each child. At Camp Smile Pediatric Dentistry, we are happy to offer a complimentary infant exam for children 18 months and under. Our office is committed to doing all that we can to educate parents on dental health and familiarize your child with the dentist’s office.

You can always expect quality care and customized recommendations and treatment designed as though we were caring for own family.

Learn more about the best time to start taking your child to the dentist.


FRENECTOMY

You may have heard about a procedure called a “frenectomy.” At Camp Smile, our skilled doctors complete a thorough evaluation while using a conservative approach to determine if a frenectomy is indicated for your child.

The lingual frenulum, or the piece of soft tissue connecting the bottom of the tongue to the floor of the mouth, can limit the tongue’s movement when the connection is not quite right. As a result, your child may have difficulty feeding or speaking. When the tongue is restricted, it also may not be able to sweep food from the teeth for proper cleanliness.

The labial frenulum is the piece of soft tissue connecting the upper lip to the gums around the top teeth of the mouth. Sometimes, its location and/or thickness may contribute to a diastema, or increased gap between the two front teeth, that may not be corrected with orthodontics alone.

With the Solea® laser, our pediatric dentists can complete a frenectomy to remove and/or release this tissue. Due to the latest in soft tissue laser technology, little to no anesthesia may be required.

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PREVENTIVE CARE APPOINTMENTS

For bright smiles and healthy gums, look no further than Camp Smile Pediatric Dentistry. You can trust our compassionate team to remain dedicated to promoting the best for your child—from infancy through the teenage years.

Children and adolescents have unique needs during each stage of development, and we are committed to ensuring each dental visit is tailored to deliver the highest standards of care for your children. During routine preventive care appointments, we will complete thorough evaluations and be proactive in assessing for any restorative and orthodontic needs.

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MOUTHGUARDS

According to the National Youth Sports Foundation for Safety, dental injuries are the most common orofacial injuries from youth sports. It has been reported that athletes are 60 times more likely to sustain injury to their teeth if they are not wearing an appropriate mouth guard, and accidents in sports have been shown to be responsible for 10-39% of children’s dental injuries.

The team at Camp Smile Pediatric Dentistry can fabricate a custom mouth guard to prevent dental injuries in your young athletes and help you keep your focus on supporting their teams instead of worrying about their teeth!

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ORTHODONTICS

Dental occlusion and tooth alignment issues may be detected early in childhood. At Camp Smile Pediatric Dentistry, we recognize early intervention often can help patients avoid future orthodontic problems. Our clinic aims to identify alignment issues in the earliest possible state and incorporate interceptive measures to minimize the overall scope of treatment.

We go the extra mile to cater to children and understand orthodontic treatment may be unappealing, or even frightening, to younger patients. Our children’s orthodontics program is about more than just proper tooth alignment; it is about making your child feel comfortable with treatment every step of the way.

Our goal is to help all patients enjoy their smiles to the absolute fullest.

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SEALANTS

Sealants, or white protective coatings painted on the pits and grooves of a tooth’s chewing surface, are used as a preventive measure to reduce the risk of decay in conjunction with proper brushing habits at home. Typically, sealants are placed on teeth located in the back of the mouth (premolars and molars) and require no anesthesia. Since a large majority of cavities affecting posterior teeth in the permanent dentition are found on the occlusal, or “biting,” surfaces, sealants are yet another proactive measure to prevent cavities.

Our team checks sealants at each preventive care appointment and will replace sealants as they wear away at no additional cost.

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SDF (SILVER DIAMINE FLUORIDE)

Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is an antimicrobial liquid that may be applied topically to help stop, or arrest, cavities. It may also be used to treat tooth sensitivity.

While SDF treatment does not eliminate the need for definitive dental restorations (fillings and crowns), it serves as an interim therapy for anxious patients or those unable to sit for traditional treatment in the office. Typically, SDF is applied over multiple visits with emphasis on focused oral hygiene and good dietary practices at home.

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SLEEP AWAY CAMP (GENERAL ANESTHESIA)

Camp Smile Pediatric Dentistry provides comprehensive dental treatment under general anesthesia for children and patients with special health care needs who are too young and/or may be unable to tolerate treatment in the traditional dental setting. For in-office treatment under general anesthesia, our pediatric dentists complete indicated dental treatment while a highly trained dental anesthesiologist is present and monitors the patient for the entire appointment. This enables your child to wake up with no recollection of the completed work and will facilitate a productive visit where affected teeth are treated without negative and/or traumatic feelings during or after the visit.

Additionally, our pediatric dentists hold privileges with Children’s Minnesota and WestHealth Surgery Center.

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LASER DENTISTRY

Camp Smile is proud to be one of a few Pediatric offices in the metro using the latest in laser technology. The Solea laser allows for reliable, numb-free dental appointments.

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RADIOGRAPHS

Dental x-rays are taken on an individual basis to access the growth/development of your child as well as diagnose dental disease. Dr’s Raether and Augustyn follow the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s guidelines as to the frequency and timing of dental radiographs. Camp Smile utilizes the latest digital technology in dental radiography.

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FILLINGS/RESTORATIONS

When the decay is removed from a tooth, it is replaced with “filling” material. Fillings play an important role in maintaining your child’s health. Unfilled cavities never go away and get bigger with time. We offer two options for filling your child’s teeth Amalgam (silver) filings or Tooth-Colored fillings in the forms of composites or glass ionomers. We will discuss in greater detail to determine which is best for your child.

CROWNS

Crowns on primary teeth are typically made of stainless steel (for strength) and are silver in color. Often on front teeth white composite crowns can be used. Your child’s pediatric dentist will discuss with you the best option for your child.

STAINLESS STEEL CROWNS

Stainless Steel Crowns are placed on primary teeth to protect, seal and strengthen a tooth:

  • After a pulpotomy/pulpectomy has been performed
  • After large decay has been removed
  • To correct a malformed tooth
  • To preserve a tooth with severe attrition/sensitivity

Stainless steel crowns are considered a good temporary restoration to save the primary tooth until the permanent tooth can erupt and take its space keeping the primary tooth if at all possible is very important.

A primary tooth can be restored with a stainless steel crown during one appointment. The decay is removed, the tooth is shaped for a crown then the crown is cemented. A crowned tooth must be brushed and flossed just like other teeth.

WHITE CROWNS

White crowns are used on front teeth and back teeth for esthetic reasons but are very similar to stainless steel crowns. The zirconia all white crown is a great option to maximize esthetics. Your doctor will discuss whether zirconia crowns are a good option for your child.

COMPOSITE STRIP CROWNS

This type of composite crown is used on front teeth and utilizes bonding materials to allow the esthetic composite material to adhere to the remaining enamel on the teeth. This is the most esthetic crown available for front teeth however there has to be sufficient tooth structure remaining in order for it to bond.

PULP THERAPY

Damage to a tooth’s inner nerve tissue sometimes requires treatment of the pulp. Pulp Therapy involves removing the soft tissue within the tooth, the pulp, when it has become infected and inflamed from either trauma or decay. Our doctors gently remove the infected tissue out of the root canals of the tooth and fill the void with an inert material. The procedure is completed with the placement of a filling or more commonly a crown. Because your child’s comfort is our priority, our team offers various levels of anesthesia and sedation therapy to keep them relaxed.

TOOTH EXTRACTION

Keeping your child’s teeth is the best and preferred solution. In the instance that a tooth has too much damage to be repaired or an abscess is present, it may be recommended to extract the tooth. Postponing or forgoing a recommended tooth extraction may lead to complications, pain, and additional costs. Dr.’s Raether and Augustyn offer many methods of anesthesia and sedation so feel confident that your child will be comfortable and relaxed as their extraction is done.

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INTERCEPTIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE ORTHODONTICS

Many times if a malocclusion or crooked teeth are caught early enough, there are several guiding procedures that can be done to minimize your child’s need for braces. This may include treatments such as disking, space maintainers, retainers, and partial braces. If braces are still required, we are pleased to assist your child in creating a beautiful, healthy, esthetic smile with comprehensive orthodontics.

FUN

Fun, we have it here! Come experience it for your child’s next visit!