At Icon Dental Center, Dr. Joanna Valentine and Dr. Nadia Aboulhosn create a unique, welcoming environment that is comfortable for the entire family and the ideal dental practice for your kids. We hope to become the “dental home” for children from their first visit all the way through adulthood. We provide individualized, empathetic dental treatment at the highest level.

Care You Trust For Your Child’s Health

• We treat your family like our own
• Dedicated Pedodontist on staff
• Both Dr. Valentine and Dr. Aboulhosn take continuing education courses to stay on top of new treatment options, dental materials, and technology to ensure you get the best dental treatment
• We offer sedation dentistry for anxious patients
• We accept most major insurances, including Delta Dental, MetLife, Regence, Premera, Aetna and United Concordia
• Family dental appointments available – save time and trips by scheduling multiple family members for exams in one visit!

An Early Start for a Healthy Mouth

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children should visit the dentist by their first birthday. Children start getting teeth between 6 and 12 months. It is important they receive comprehensive dental care and benefit from proper oral hygiene habits from the beginning.

Your Child’s First Visit

The first visit to our office is usually short and simple. We focus on getting to know your child, giving some basic information about dental care and do a check of your child’s dental health. We check the teeth for placement and health and look for potential problems with the gum and jaw. If necessary, we may do a bit of teeth cleaning. During this visit we can answer any questions you have about how to care for your child’s teeth as they develop and how to get your child to properly care for their teeth.

Dental X-Rays

We recommend children, like adults, should see a dentist at least twice a year. In some cases your child may need more frequent visits to our office if they are at increased risk for decay, have unusual growth patterns or poor oral hygiene. The frequency of dental X-rays for kids depends on your child’s individual needs. For kids with high risks of tooth decay, we recommend an X-ray every 6 months.

Sealants

Sealants should be used as part of a child’s total preventive dental care. Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of the molars (back teeth). Most tooth decay in children and teens occurs in these surfaces. Sealants cover the chewing surfaces to prevent decay.

Applying sealants does not require drilling or removing tooth structure. It is an easy three-step process: We clean the tooth with a special toothpaste. A special cleansing liquid, on a tiny piece of cotton, is rubbed gently on the tooth and is washed off. Finally, the sealant is painted on the tooth. It takes about a minute for the sealant to form a protective shield. One sealant application can last for as long as 5 to 10 years. Sealants should be checked regularly, and reapplied if they are no longer in place.

Children and adults at high risk of dental decay may benefit from using additional fluoride products, including dietary supplements (for children who do not have adequate levels of fluoride in their drinking water), mouth rinses, and professionally applied gels and varnishes.

Parents are Part of the Team!

During their visit, we focus on making sure your child is comfortable and relaxed during their treatment. There are some things you can do to help ensure that your child’s visits to the dentists are positive and their oral care habits are thorough and consistent.

• Don’t bribe your child to come to the office
• Schedule a morning appointment when your child is rested and may be more cooperative
• Do not use the visit as a punishment or threat
• Do not relay an anxieties you may have
• Do not relay scary stories about dental visits
• Do not use words that may be threatening (such as drill, cavity, or needle)
• Describe the visit as something that will be fun and enjoyable

Encouraging Healthy Habits at Home

Children are at high risk for tooth decay and cavities because many children and adolescents do not practice regular, good oral hygiene habits. Tooth decay is caused by sugars left in the mouth that turn into an acid which can break down your teeth. In order to avoid tooth decay and cavities there are a few oral hygiene habits you can help your child practice such as:

• Brushing their teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
• Flossing daily
• Using a fluoride supplement that can help tooth enamel become harder and more resistant to decay
• Avoiding sugary foods and drinks
• Limiting snacking
• Maintaining a healthy diet – fruits, veggies and protein
• Visiting the dentist every 6 months for regular dental cleanings and checkups

Teens’ Teeth Count, Too!

Your teenager just got their driver’s license – now they can drive themselves to the dentist!  It’s very important that your teenager still see the dentist for cleanings on a regular basis, as they are getting the last of their permanent teeth and the teeth that have just come through the gums are especially vulnerable to decay. Growing doesn’t stop at childhood – teens experience important growth in their faces and jaws. In fact, teenagers start becoming responsible for their own diet and nutrition choices, so it’s important that those choices come from a solid foundation of dental health.

Call now to schedule an appointment for your child with Dr. Valentine, or our specialist, Kendra Farmer at our South Everett or Downtown Seattle location. Your whole family will benefit from our expertise and caring touch.