Parents love bringing their children and teenagers to Racine Dental Group. Our Pediatric Department is specially designed to give our young patients special attention and understanding--from our fun-filled play area to the modern treatment rooms. Our pediatric dentists and staff are trained to make children's dental experiences comfortable and fun. They take the time to educate both children and parents about proper home care techniques and explain procedures in terms they can understand.

We often get asked what is the difference between a general dentist and a pediatric dentist. Pediatric dentists are specialists in treating the dental health of children. They are also referred to as the pediatricians of dentistry. A pediatric dentist has two years of specialty training beyond that of a general dentist and limits the practice to treating only children. Pediatric dentists focus on the oral health and unique needs of infants and children through adolescence. They specialize in the growth and development of children, both physically and psychologically, to handle each child’s dental needs.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry along with The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a child's first dental visit be by 12 months of age. Generally our young patients stay with their pediatric dentist until they graduate from high school. The goal of early dental visits are to help prevent cavities before they need to be treated. At the Racine Dental Group Pediatric Department, we always emphasize and educate both children and parents about prevention, by using products such as fluoride, xylitol, MI paste, and dental sealants. For complete and detailed information on prevention see, Prevention of ECC,

Bring your children to a Pediatric Dentist early. To prepare your child for the first checkup, don’t say, "It won't hurt" Avoid using words like “needle” or "drill."  This will just scare them. Instead, prior to their appointment, play dentist at home. Read a book about going to the dentist, and let the dentist’s office staff know what their favorite characters are. Also, please let our office know in advance if there are any special needs your child may have.

Read on to find out more about Racine Dental Group's pediatric dentists and some of the services they provide. The "Just for Kids" link takes children to a fun quiz on dental health, as well as other games.