Calling all parents . . . did you know that tooth decay is the most common childhood disease — and that it’s preventable?
According to Michelle Perez, DMD, a dentist at Sam Rodgers Downtown Campus, the most important thing a parent can do to ensure a child’s good oral and dental health is to start healthy dental habits early. “Establish a routine where brushing happens at least twice daily, combine that with good flossing habits and then help your child make wise nutrition decisions, such as limiting soda, sugary drinks and snacks,” says Perez. “This is the best advice I can offer to every parent.”
Perez says that approximately 60% of her patients are children. “There’s a misunderstanding that since children lose their baby teeth anyway, they don’t require care. But if we can teach kids early on these techniques and educate them on proper diet also, we set them up for a lifetime of healthy teeth,” she adds.
Pediatric dental care isn’t limited to simply cleaning teeth. Sam Rodgers pediatric dentists assess the whole health picture, even screening for possible signs of child abuse or neglect in the mouth. Dentists have opportunities to observe and assess not only the physical and the psychological condition of the children, but also the family environment. It’s also a chance for dentists to check for other health concerns and assess the child’s well being.
Perez says that the mission of the Health Center — healthy families in a healthy community — drew her to Sam Rodgers. “We see so many families for all of their dental needs,” Perez continues. “We can serve as that family’s dental ‘home’ for all of its members, from infants to seniors.”
Most children are covered for dental care in one form or another. If a family doesn’t have dental insurance coverage, they may qualify for MO HealthNet coverage, accepted at Sam Rodgers.
Sam Rodgers has four locations to serve its patients: two in Kansas City, one north of the river in Clay County and one in Lexington, Missouri. At Sam Rodgers, we can take care of your entire family in one convenient location.
“Knowledge is power. I am a firm believer that if we can educate and help our patients understand the importance of oral health and prevention, we create an opportunity to raise awareness within a family that can be healthy together,” Perez notes. “As a team, we are committed to providing the highest quality dental care, all the while educating and encouraging the prevention of dental disease. We intend to keep even the littlest of smiles bright and healthy!”
