Blog

Xylitol: Not Just Another X-word What is Xylitol? Xylitol is a naturally occurring, plant-based sugar-alcohol.  It is used as a sugar substitute in prepared foods, baked good, and candies. Xylitol has a negligible effects on blood sugar because it is metabolized independently of insulin, and is recommended for those with diabetes.   Xylitol and Oral […]

Introducing Dr. Scott Sachs – Our New Pediatric Dentist Parents are asking, “Where is Dr. Sachs?” Parents across Hampton Roads have been scouring the internet and social media to find out!  So we have breaking news:  Look no further, Dr. Sachs has joined Coastal Pediatric Dental & Anesthesia. Dr. Sachs will be joining Dr. Reynolds […]

Sealants? To Seal or Not To Seal: That is the Question. Should One Get Sealants? Research shows that sealants are an effective way to reduce dental caries (cavities) on the chewing surfaces of baby and permanent molars in children and teenagers. What is a Dental Sealant? A sealant is a thin filling material that your […]

Baby Root Canals. Seriously? Yes, Seriously, It Just Might Save A Tooth and Prevent Future Dental Problems Wow… Root Canal… seems aggressive for baby teeth. Although it may sound like aggressive treatment, dentists recommend root canals on baby teeth when the cavity is close to the nerve. These cavities are the ones that are painful […]

Back to School Fun – Don’t Forget School Dental Exams Backpack…check. Pencils…check. Crayons… check. School Dental exam… It’s that time of the year again. Labor day just passed, football is back on TV, hurricane season is upon us. Virginia Beach tourists are headed home and your neighbor potted her mums.  That can only mean one […]

Prenatal Oral Health Care Directly Affects the Child’s Oral Health   What’s the bottom line? Prenatal Oral Health Care, or taking good care of your teeth while pregnant, actually decreases the risk of your child having baby teeth cavities. We apologize in advance to all the expecting mothers reading this now as it gives you […]

Fluoride: To Err is Human. To Fluoridate is Beautiful. Policy Statement Regarding Fluoride: Fluoride use can be a controversial topic about which we are asked routinely. Consistent with the AAPD, ADA and our medical pals at the AMA, we advocate the use of fluoride, in age appropriate amounts to be determined by your pediatric dental […]

Poor Oral Health Linked to Poor Academic Performance What Does Oral Health Have to Do With Learning? A study in the June issue of The Journal of Pediatrics investigated whether there was an association between poor oral health and poor academic performance. How was the study done? Using the 2016-2017 National Survey of Children’s Health, […]

Low Calorie Soda Changes the Shape of Baby Teeth   Wait- I thought low calorie soda and teeth were okay together? A study in The Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry sought to investigate whether low calorie soda could affect the shape of baby teeth.   I’m Sorry, Our tax dollars paid for this? No. This […]

What is a Dental Home? The Dental Home is a concept that comes from the American Academy of Pediatrics’ “medical home.”  A “medical home” is a pediatrician’s practice where a child has a relationship with that provider.  It is well-established that children that have a medical home are healthier, have fewer hospitalizations and emergency room […]

What is Early Childhood Caries? Caries is the technical dental term for cavities. Cavities are literally holes in the mineral surface of the teeth from acid that is produced by bacteria in the oral cavity when that bacterium is exposed to the food we eat. Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is defined as any cavity that […]

Introducing Jillian Reynolds, DDS Dr. Reynolds is a Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist (Children’s Dentist). She is trained to provide comprehensive dentistry to the well child as well as children who are medically compromised, developmentally disabled, or victims of trauma. In addition to treatment in office, Dr. Reynolds is on the Professional Staff at the Children’s Hospital […]

Scared of Dentists? You aren’t alone.
Research suggests that 50-80% of Americans report some form of dental anxiety. In addition, about 25% of Americans are actually scared of dentists.

Anesthesia Patient Safety Anesthesiologists have long been the champions of anesthesia patient safety.  Before doctors were willing to admit concerns about medical errors and safety of their patients, anesthesiologists were the first to admit that doctors were not infallible. As such, anesthesiologists were the first specialty to make a major impact on medicine by putting […]

Safety of Topical Numbing Medications in Children Coastal Pediatric Dental & Anesthesia has always cautioned against the use of topical numbing medications such as Orajel in children that are teething or have tooth pain, in our frequently asked questions (FAQs). However, we thought it was time to revisit this subject given the fact that the […]

A pediatric dentist is a dental specialist that specializes in the care of children, teenagers, and young adults. Although general dentists may call themselves a family dentist, a children's dentist, or a kid's dentist, only a pediatric dentist has undergone an extra two years of training to become a specialist. During this training, the dentist [...]

Anesthesia and Children: Is it safe for developing brains? Parents and medical professionals alike are asking the question, “Is anesthesia safe for developing brains?” Parents want to ensure that anesthesia will not cause long-term issues for their child.  Likewise, medical professionals want to ensure that they “do no harm.” This is a very complicated issue […]

Dental Insurance for Children’s Dentistry Dental insurance has become increasingly complex in recent years, especially with the introduction of pediatric dental plans in the Affordable Care Act. With the Affordable Care Act (ACA, sometimes called Obamacare), pediatric dental coverage became an “essential” part of insurance coverage.  By “essential,” this means that children, not adults, must […]

General Anesthesia for Dental Care Let’s face it, most people don’t exactly enjoy going to the dentist.  In fact, 75% of adults have a dental phobia or fear of dentists.  Although it is hard to estimate the number of children with dental fear, it appears that many adults learn their fear from experiences during their […]

Dental Cavities in Children – How Common Is It? Dental caries, also called cavities, is the most common infectious disease in children.  It is also the most common chronic disease in both children and adults.  As a parent you are not alone if you are shocked or in disbelief when told that your child has untreated […]

Coastal Pediatric Dental & Anesthesia describes the risks and benefits of pediatric conscious sedation

We answer the question, “Why are fillings in baby teeth necessary?” Despite the fact that your child will lose their primary teeth, healthy baby teeth are important for your child’s growth and development.

Have You Ever Wondered When Your Baby’s Teeth Will Come In? Of course you have, this is a natural question for parents. Some parents worry that their child is delayed because they haven’t gotten teeth yet while their peers have. Other parents are concerned that their child may not get teeth in or that the […]

Outpatient sedation and anesthesia has had a long history in dental offices. Dental procedures aren’t exactly everyone’s favorite past time, hence the saying, “having as much fun as a root canal.” Despite the advances in local anesthesia, many people simply prefer to “be asleep” during their dental work. There has been an increased demand for […]

Dentist Anesthesiologists Dentist anesthesiologists are first and foremost, dentists. As dentists, they have completed an undergraduate degree and a doctoral degree in dentistry (D.M.D. or D.D.S.). Dentist anesthesiologists undergo residency training in anesthesia. The American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation accredits these residency programs. In addition, these programs are affiliated with hospital anesthesia programs […]

First Dental Visit Your child’s first dental visit should occur within six months of when their first tooth appears in the mouth and no later than their first birthday. This is far different than the old school recommendation of 3 years of age or when starting school. If you are being told this, it’s because […]

What is Early Childhood Caries? Caries is the technical dental term for cavities. Cavities are literally holes in the mineral surface of the teeth from acid that is produced by bacteria in the oral cavity when that bacterium is exposed to the food we eat. Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is defined as any cavity that […]

Teething and Teething Symptoms
Teething

Teething is the process of having teeth erupt into the mouth or oral cavity. Children get their teeth at different ages, but the teeth tend to erupt in a similar pattern despite differences in when they erupt. Typically children get their lower central front teeth first, followed by the uppers.

Sugar and Cavities Most people understand that sugar causes teeth to get cavities. From an early age, dentists talk to kids about “sugar bugs” or sugar rotting holes in your teeth. Most people walk out of the dental office assuming that the more sugar that one consumes, the more likely one is to have cavities. […]

Surfing, Dentistry, Oral Health all have something in common, and it isn’t Coastal Pediatric Dental & Anesthesia. Australian professional surfer Tyler Wright, and her Colgate sponsor, can be seen above winning in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil . She was part of the Colgate Plax Girls Pro. Tyler Wright took first place. So Girls take note! […]

A New and Innovative Dental Practice Welcome to Coastal Pediatric Dental & Anesthesia. We are an new and innovative pediatric dental practice that will serve the Hampton Roads, Virginia. We offer full service pediatric dentistry, but our specialty is delivering safe and effective anesthesia for dental care (Dental Anesthesia). Other practices have added anesthesia or […]