|
Just for kids
By Connie Beard
Published December 20, 2009
When the doors to Paris Childrens Dentistry open next month, Allen Pearson, DDS, hopes to fill a need in Paris and the surrounding counties.
Pearson, a board certified pediatric dentist, has been working in the pediatric dental health field since 1999, opening an office in Wiley in 2003. When he decided to expand his practice, he found there are no dentists in the area who work exclusively with children. The closest pediatric dentists, he said, are in Sherman and Mount Pleasant. He considered opening a practice in Tyler and Wichita Falls before deciding on Paris.
“There’s a huge need out here. We’re planning on serving Hugo, Okla., and all the nearby counties,” Pearson said. “And, we take Medicaid, which is unusual.”
Paris Childrens Dentistry is to open Jan. 14 at 4550 Lamar Ave., Suite 300. The office will be open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at first. Once the practice is built up, Pearson plans to bring in a new associate and add more days to accommodate his clientele.
“This practice is all about making a positive experience for our patients,” Pearson said.
Patients who are 18 -years-old and younger make up his practice. Pearson found he preferred working with children while in dentistry school at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb.
“I’m just a big kid myself,” he said. “As I was dealing with adults in school, I found it more interesting to treat younger people rather than be serious and dry. Children are so much more open and trusting.”
The office features bright colors along the walls and will have toys and books for children to use in the waiting room. Televisions will be mounted in each room, with some mounted on the ceiling.
“It (television) works like a drug,” he said.
Many techniques are used to calm children. Pearson uses a combination of psychology and, if necessary, can use several types of sedation.
“Children respond well to psychology. We do our best to treat the mind and the tooth,” he said.
Pediatric dentists are qualified in general dentistry with two additional years of training focusing on children. Pediatric dentists study child psychology, behavior modification and child management techniques.
The type of psychology Pearson’s offices uses includes objects to keep the experience fun, such as movies, toys, hand-held video games or prizes. Sedation might be anything from oral conscious sedation for those who are uneasy about the experience to IV sedation for those who are already terrified of a visit to the dentist.
“We take the time to learn the history, the mindset, of the children before working on their teeth. And children who are 3 and under are below the age of cooperation. You can ask them to not move and they’ll agree, but they don’t really know what it means,” Pearson said.
The Paris clinic will be able to treat most pediatric-related problems. Fillings, crowns, baby root canals, extract or pull teeth, minor orthodontics and space maintainers for crowded or crooked teeth are all done in the office.
In addition to creating a positive experience for children, their parents also learn how to care for their children’s teeth.
“We tell them about different drinks and food, the proper method on how to brush their children’s teeth, how to care for and look for problems and how to deal with emergencies, such as what to do when their child falls and knocks a tooth out,” Pearson said.
Appointments are currently being taken at Paris Childrens Dentistry. For more information, call 903-905-4905. The office is located at 4550 Lamar Ave. next to Jackson Medical Plaza.
Share |
Save |
Mail |
Print |
Letter
|
|
 |
|
|
