This feels good to say: we are back. Commonwealth Pediatric Dentistry is once again open to serve your family, whether your children are current patients or prospective new patients.

Things may look a little different around our practice as we take our cues from the CDC, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and other organizations providing guidance for treatment during COVID-19. This includes seeing me and the staff wearing additional PPE and practicing social distancing in the offices. These enhanced procedures are all being conducted to ensure the safety and well-being of patients, their families, and our staff. If you have any questions about these safeguards, feel free to contact us.
 
If you had booked an appointment while we were closed, we will be reaching back out to you to reschedule shortly. If you are a new patient looking for treatment, feel free to give us a call at your convenience at 804-729-0792 for our Midlothian / Chesterfield location and 434-808-1657 for our Farmville location.
 
We’re excited to see all our returning patients and their families — and to meet our new patients.

When your children are around 6 years old, and then again around 12, you’ll probably hear your pediatric dentist bring up dental sealants.
 
The idea behind them is simple: we apply a thin, protective layer to their teeth to keep out bits of food and germs. Ultimately, this is a proactive measure to prevent cavities.
 
These sealants — known as pit-and-fissures sealants — are more than mere suggestions; they’re recommended by the American Dental Academy (ADA) and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) for safeguarding and stopping in-progress cavities in primary and permanent molars. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), sealants can protect against 80% of cavities for two years, continuing to protect against 50% of cavities for up to an additional four years.
 
Sealants are available in a number of materials, including resin-based sealants and glass ionomer sealants, but neither the ADA nor AAPD express a preference for one specific type.
 
So, if your pediatric dentist brings up the idea of your kids getting sealants, know that the research has been done and the evidence has been found. For more than five decades, sealants have been an effective tool for addressing cavities. And that holds true today.
 
I hope this answers any questions you have about dental sealants. If you’re interested in learning more or scheduling an appointment, please contact my office today.
--Dr. Drew Zima

By Mike W. (patient father & guest writer)
My 5-year-old daughter and 8-yr-old son are by all accounts great kids — but sometimes misfortune makes me look like a less-than-great dad.
 
For starters, my daughter once broke her leg at one of those indoor trampoline parks. That’s supposed to be the joke we all make before going — “don’t break your leg” — yet, it actually happened to her.
 
And just this past Halloween, my son one-upped her, biting into a fun-size pack of Skittles and cracking a tooth in the back part of his upper jaw. Dad of the year, right?
 
These are the incidents that instantly send us into “dad mode” or “mom mode.” We try and stay calm as to not worry our kids, but we approach the situation assuming the worst. I wondered aloud, what do I do? Where do I go? After all, it was a Saturday night.
 
Instead, as my son held a washcloth to the fresh gap in his teeth, I sent a text to Dr. Zima on a whim. Here’s what happened after my text...
 
My text: “My son bit down on a piece of candy. He split a tooth, bled a little. How big a deal is this? (And sorry to text you on a weekend at night, feel free to get back to me Monday.”
 
[A few minutes later…]
 
Dr. Zima’s text: “Most likely it was a loose tooth and there was so little left that it broke. Feel free to snap a picture and text it to me.”
 
[I didn’t send a pic immediately, and Dr. Zima followed up.”
 
Dr. Zima’s text: “When you get a chance, send me over a picture of Nolan’s tooth. I want to make sure it’s not something I need to see him for.”
 
[I took and sent a few pics over…]
 
Dr. Zima’s text: “It looks like it’s his primary first molar about to come in. It is such a thin shell that it just broke when he bit down on something. Have him keep wiggling whatever is left of the tooth so it will come out sooner than later. He will probably be a little tender with eating until it comes out. You can always dabble little Orajel there before he eats if it’s causing issues.”

At first, I was just happy Nolan seemed like he’d be A-OK. But then it hit me: this type of patient care is such a rarity these days. It’s the reason I take my kids to see Dr. Zima and it’s the reason I encourage my friends to bring their children as well. He truly cares.
 
On behalf of my entire family, thank you, Dr. Zima! Now it’s time to toss out that leftover Halloween candy…

Sometimes it’s a small victory just to get your kids to bed at night. We get it.

Maybe they’re sleeping in their Halloween costume (again). Maybe they didn’t brush their teeth. But that can wait until tomorrow, right?

​Establishing a regular dental hygiene routine isn’t just important for your children’s oral health today, but it also builds lifelong healthy habits. Sure, we’re all going to miss or forget sometimes, but we owe it to our kids to try our best.

Here are some of the tips I typically share with parents about helping their kids establish a regular rhythm of proper dental hygiene:
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• Brush twice a day. Once after breakfast and once before bed. It’s important not to eat or drink anything after the night-time brushing to allow the fluoride to set on the teeth while sleeping.
• Brush for two minutes. It may sound like a long time, but it’s important. Here is a trick: brush your teeth alongside your kids so you’re in this all together. (Plus, you’ll probably find you’re brushing longer and more regularly, too.)
• Choose a soft brush and don’t brush too hard. As for the toothpaste, ask the pediatric dentist if your child should be using one with fluoride. It can fluctuate depending on your child.
  
  

It’s tough in the beginning. But know that the more you get your children to keep their healthy brushing routine, the easier it will become. And if you’re at your wit’s end, try this: go to the drugstore and let your kid pick out their favorite character toothbrush, whether it’s a Ninja Turtle or a Minnie Mouse. Now that’s something they can look forward to.

We know that folks get nervous before their first dental appointment – kids and parents.

We totally get it. You’re meeting someone new in a strange office and you’re unsure what to expect. We recently wrote about everything you can expect during your first visit, just to help put our new patients at ease a bit. But we wanted to take it a bit further and explain everything we do to make kids feel comfortable and gain their trust – and even get children excited about visiting the dentist!
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• We explain things to them in a kid-friendly way so they can understand and not be scared. Words are pretty powerful, and dental jargon can be scarier than a drill for some kiddos.
• We have TVs on the ceiling at each practice. Sometimes kids just want to blur out the dental exam and focus on something else. That’s fine! Some kid-friendly TV always does the trick.
• We give kids a token for our toy machine. And trust me…they ALWAYS remember to get their token.
  
  

The dental hygiene habits kids form today will lay the foundation for their oral health for the rest of their lives. By getting to know our patients, and making them look forward to visiting us, we’re helping them to build a healthy relationship with the dentist for years to come.

Don’t be surprised if your kids leave their first dental appointment here asking, “When can I go back!?”

I have kids. And I wouldn’t have become a pediatric dentist if I didn’t enjoy working with kids as much as I do. As much as the goal here is to ensure optimal oral health, my team and I understand the importance of making your children feel safe and comfortable – and even have fun! By building rapport with you and your kids, we lay a great foundation for providing the best possible care and treatment.
Here is a look at what you and your children can expect from my team and I during the first visit:

What we’ll do:
• We’ll review your child’s medical history and take X-rays if needed.
• We’ll perform your kid’s first dental cleaning, including a careful examination of the teeth and gums as well as a fluoride application. (You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how quick and easy this is these days.)
• If your child experiences any anxiety — which is totally normal — we may ask you, the parent, to lay down on the dental chair with your child. Alternatively, we can also try the “knee-to-knee” technique during which the parent and doctor sit facing each other, and your child lies back on the doctor’s lap. Both of these methods allow the patient to have the comfort of their parent during their dental exam.
• We’ll answer all your questions about your child’s dental health, oral hygiene habits and dietary recommendations.
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How you can help the first visit go smoothly:
• Print out, complete and bring the required paperwork to your first visit.
• Bring your dental insurance information.
• Please us know ahead of time if there are any special health concerns.

​Expect your child to have fun! We have TVs at each dental chair and prizes to share with your kid. Plus, our new Midlothian location has a lobby arcade! So what are you waiting for?