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CEDAR RAPIDS — When you set foot into a pediatric dentistry office here in the Corridor, it’s not hard to gather they are child-friendly spaces.
While the offices and equipment are noticeably different from those in a general dentistry office, the pediatric dentists themselves are uniquely skilled as well.
To become a pediatric dentist, one must go through at least two years of additional training after completing dental school to specialize in the field of pediatric dentistry — the second oldest specialty in dentistry, just behind orthodontics.
“Most programs are two to three years and are often based out of a university or hospital setting,” said Dr. Sarah Swenson, who completed her dental schooling and specialty training at the University of Iowa before beginning her practice at Cedar Rapids Pediatric Dentistry two and a half years ago.
“That two years of training is really about helping us understand how to meet the psychological and behavioral needs of children,” she said. “Every child’s mouth is different, and a lot goes into helping manage their growth and development.”
Dr. Kaaren Vargas, a board-certified pediatric dentist with Corridor Kids Pediatric Dentistry in North Liberty, agreed that those additional years of training make pediatric dentists especially qualified to serve children.
“Some general dentists could have only nine weeks of training in working with children,” she noted. “As pediatric dentists we go through at least an additional two years to be able to work with children.
“There are things we can offer that a general dentist couldn’t offer children just as there are some things a pediatric dentist can’t offer adults. That is why we don’t overstep those bounds.”
Vargas, who is from South America, did her dental studies in Peru and her residency in New York. She obtained her master’s degree at the UI where she taught before opening her practice in 2008. She now works in an office of 15, along with another pediatric dentist.
“In today’s world, you have to be very customer-oriented,” Vargas said. “What our patients remember is how they were treated when they come in for a visit.”
Dr. Don Peterson Jr. — who operates Iowa Pediatric Dental Center, with offices in Coralville, Cedar Rapids and Muscatine — also went to dental school at the UI before heading to New York for his pediatric dentistry residency. He started his practice in Coralville 10 years ago, opened an office in Muscatine seven years ago and opened an office in Cedar Rapids last year.
Peterson, along with this pediatric dentistry associate, Dr. Mark Moeller, work with 11 staff members to split their time between patients in all three offices throughout the week.
“It is interesting work because you are dealing with smaller mouths and smaller teeth, along with all sorts of big personalities,” he said.
“Our office in Cedar Rapids ... features a large, colorful mural of Herky and a toothbrush, which we call the Tooth Hawk,” he said. “ ...Everything about the office is geared toward kids because that is what we do all day long.”
“We run similar to general dental office as we do see patients throughout the day,” said Swenson of Cedar Rapids Pediatric Dentistry. “But we take into account that kids are fresh in the morning so we do a lot of appointments then and mornings tend to be busier.”
How young is too young?
“I’ve seen babies that are just a few days old that may be having a nursing problem related to a small mouth or a baby that may have been born with a tooth, which does happen,” Peterson noted.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommend that children are seen for the first time by a dentist within six months of their first tooth coming through or about age one.
“Many people take their children to see a pediatrician,” Peterson said. “Taking your child to see a pediatric dentist is not much different.”
Mills Giorgio, K. (2015, January 17). Careers: These dentists say you’re never too young. Retrieved January 20, 2015, from http://thegazette.com/subject/news/careers-these-dentists-say-youre-never-too-young-20150117
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