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Advanced Education Clinics: Pediatric Dentistry

What is Pediatric Dentistry?

Pediatric Dentistry is an age-defined specialty that provides both primary and specialty comprehensive preventive and therapeutic oral health care for infants and children through adolescence, including those with special health care needs. This specialty emphasizes the prevention and interception of oral diseases through early intervention and comprehensive preventive practices.

Become a Patient
The Department of Pediatric Dentistry accepts new patients from ages 0 to 20 all year round and there is no additional screening required to become a patient of our clinics.

To request an appointment by email, please send your name, child's name, age and contact phone number to pedodent@lsuhsc.edu. Otherwise, call one of the numbers below.

You can print and fill out this Medical History form and bring it with you to your initial appointment.

Please call 504-941-8201 to make an appointment.

If you are a referring dentist, please fax one of the referral forms below to the desired clinic.

Referral form for Dental School Clinic:  fax to 504-941-8200

We try our best to accommodate emergencies, including walk-in emergencies, in the most timely manner without inconveniencing our scheduled patients.

Services Provided:
The services provided by the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the LSUHSC School of Dentistry include:

  • comprehensive oral examinations, professional teeth cleanings, radiographs and professional fluoride applications
  • sealants (a protective layer of resin on the grooves of teeth to prevent decay)
  • dental restorations (white fillings, silver fillings, white caps, silver caps)
  • pulp therapy (management of pain in the nerves of the teeth)
  • space maintainers (to hold space for permanent teeth if baby teeth are taken out early)
  • interceptive orthodontics and guidance of eruption (early and selective management of dental crowding or spacing problems in children so that permanent teeth erupt in a more favorable and esthetic position)
  • diagnosis and management and/or referral for pathologic lesions in the mouth of children
  • management of trauma to primary (baby) and permanent teeth
  • interdepartmental care coordination with other specialties of dentistry on a case by case basis

It is natural for children to feel apprehension and even exhibit uncooperative behavior for a dental appointment and our doctors and staff members make every effort to provide care for children in a compassionate and friendly manner. The doctors in our clinics also use advanced behavior management techniques to help children better tolerate the dental care provided. These techniques include:

  1. Tell-Show-Do:  The dentist or assistant explains to the child what is to be done, shows an example on a tooth model or the child's finger and then the procedure is done to the child's tooth.

  2. Positive Reinforcement:  Rewards the child who displays cooperative behavior with complements, praise, a pat on the shoulder, or a small prize.

  3. Voice Control:  The attention of the disruptive child is redirected by a change in the tone and volume of the dentist's voice.

  4. Mouth props:  A device is placed in the child's mouth to prevent closure of the child's teeth on dental equipment.

  5. Hand and/or head holding by dentist, dental assistant, or parent:  An adult keeps a child's body still so the child cannot grab the dentist's hand or sharp dental tools. This is to ensure patient safety.

  6. Medical Immobilization:  The child is placed in a restraining device made of cloth and Velcro. This is to ensure that the child does not hurt himself/herself by his/her movements.

  7. Nitrous Oxide Sedation:  Nitrous oxide ("laughing gas") is a medication breathed through a nose mask to relax a nervous child and enable him/her to better tolerate dental treatment. The child will remain awake but is expected to be relaxed and calm. The nitrous oxide is breathed out of the child's body within a few minutes of being turned off. We recommend an adult hold the child's hand as they leave the clinic.

  8. Oral Sedation:  Sedative drugs may be recommended to help your child receive quality dentistry in a safe manner if other behavior management techniques do not work.

  9. General Anesthesia:  The dentist performs the dental treatment with the child anesthetized in the hospital operating room at Children's Hospital.

  10. Children with Special Health Care Needs
    Our doctors work in consultation with other medical specialists in order to provide oral health care for children who have special health care needs, such as complex medical problems, behavioral problems and developmental problems.

    Treatment Fees
    The Department of Pediatric Dentistry accepts Louisiana Medicaid. No additional fees are required to be paid for procedures that are covered by Louisiana Medicaid. However, your child may need other services, and the fees for those services will be identified to you.

    We are also an Assurant Dental Provider.

    Who Provides the Care:
    Our doctors are first- and second-year residents, who are already licensed dentists. However, due to their motivation and interest in specializing in the dental care for children, they choose to continue their education in the specialty of pediatric dentistry. They always treat children under the supervision of faculty members who already are pediatric dentists.

    Location:

    LSUHSC School of Dentistry
    4th floor Clinic Building
    1100 Florida Avenue
    New Orleans LA 70119

    Hours:
    8:00 am – 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm

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Last Update 2/2012