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Park Pediatric Dentistry is Here to Make Dental Care a Walk in the park

Dental Exams & Cleanings

Healthy Habits Start with Routine Visits

At Park Pediatric Dentistry, we believe that prevention is the key to a lifetime of healthy smiles. That’s why we emphasize the importance of regular dental exams and cleanings for children, beginning around their first birthday and continuing every six months throughout childhood.

These visits are about more than just “checking for cavities.” They’re a chance for Dr. Hannah Noto and our experienced team to monitor your child’s dental development, educate your family on healthy habits, and create a positive, stress-free experience that helps your child feel comfortable at the dentist.

What Happens During a Routine Dental Appointment?

Each visit includes a thorough and gentle exam tailored to your child’s age and needs. Depending on their stage of development, here’s what you can expect during a routine visit:

  • Dental Exam: Dr. Noto will carefully examine your child’s teeth, gums, jaw, and bite to ensure everything is developing as it should. She’ll check for signs of tooth decay, gum inflammation, or early orthodontic concerns that may require future attention.
  • Professional Cleaning: Our team will gently remove plaque and tartar buildup—especially in areas that are hard to reach with brushing and flossing alone. This helps prevent cavities and keeps gums healthy.
  • Digital X-Rays (as needed): We use low-radiation digital X-rays only when necessary to get a clearer picture of what’s happening beneath the surface, such as checking for hidden decay or monitoring tooth eruption.
  • Fluoride Treatment: In many cases, we’ll apply a fluoride varnish to strengthen enamel and protect your child’s teeth against cavities.
  • Oral Hygiene Guidance: We take the time to show kids (and parents!) how to properly brush and floss, and we provide practical tips based on your child’s age, habits, and development.

Building Confidence & Reducing Dental Anxiety

Our kid-friendly environment is designed to make dental visits enjoyable and fear-free. From our warm, welcoming team to fun distractions and gentle techniques, we strive to ensure every child has a positive experience in the dental chair.

By introducing your child to routine dental care early, and keeping those visits consistent, you help set the foundation for lifelong oral health and reduce the likelihood of dental anxiety in the future.

Why Are These Appointments So Important?

Prevention is the best treatment. Schedule your child’s next dental exam and cleaning at Park Pediatric Dentistry in Lafayette, LA—and let’s keep those smiles healthy and happy together!

Early Orthodontic Evaluations

Setting the Stage for a Healthy, Aligned Smile

Did you know that orthodontic concerns can begin to show as early as age 7? At Park Pediatric Dentistry, we offer early orthodontic evaluations to assess how your child’s teeth and jaws are developing. While most kids won’t need braces this young, early evaluations help us identify potential issues like crowding, bite misalignment, or jaw growth concerns before they progress.

Dr. Noto will:

  • Evaluate your child’s bite and tooth alignment
  • Monitor growth patterns of the jaw and facial structure
  • Recommend treatment only if and when it’s necessary

We work closely with local orthodontists when needed and guide families through every step of the process. By catching orthodontic concerns early, we can often simplify treatment later or even prevent it altogether.

Dental Sealants

Even with good brushing and flossing habits, some areas of your child’s mouth are harder to keep clean—especially the deep grooves on the chewing surfaces of back teeth. These tiny pits and fissures can trap food and bacteria, making them more vulnerable to cavities. That’s where dental sealants can help.

Sealants are thin, protective coatings applied to the back molars that “seal out” plaque and food particles. The application is quick, painless, and requires no drilling or anesthesia. Once in place, sealants act like a shield, reducing the risk of cavities by up to 80% in these high-risk areas.

At Park Pediatric Dentistry, we often recommend sealants when your child’s permanent molars come in (usually around ages 6 and 12). With proper care, they can last for years—providing an extra layer of defense to keep your child’s smile healthy and cavity-free.

Dental Fillings with Nitrous Oxide

Cavities are one of the most common childhood health concerns, but they don’t have to be a stressful experience for you or your child. At Park Pediatric Dentistry, we provide gentle, tooth-colored fillings to repair cavities and restore your child’s smile—while keeping their comfort a top priority.

For children who may feel anxious, we offer nitrous oxide, also known as “laughing gas.” This safe and effective option helps kids relax during treatment without putting them to sleep. Your child remains awake and responsive, but more comfortable and at ease. Once the treatment is complete, the effects wear off quickly, allowing your child to return to normal activities the same day.

Our goal is to make cavity treatment simple, stress-free, and positive, so your child feels confident and cared for every step of the way.

White Crowns / Zirconia Crowns

Sometimes, a cavity or injury can weaken a tooth so much that a filling isn’t enough to restore it. In these cases, a crown may be the best solution to protect and strengthen the tooth. At Park Pediatric Dentistry, we offer white crowns (zirconia crowns) as an aesthetic, long-lasting alternative to traditional stainless steel crowns.

Zirconia crowns are:

  • Tooth-colored and natural-looking, blending in beautifully with your child’s smile
  • Durable and strong, able to withstand everyday chewing and biting
  • Biocompatible, making them safe and gentle for growing mouths

These crowns are especially beneficial for restoring front teeth or visible areas where appearance matters most, but they can also be used on back teeth for added durability. With zirconia crowns, your child gets the protection they need without compromising the look of their smile.

Infant & Adolescent Frenectomies

Some children are born with a tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) or lip-tie—conditions where the tissue connecting the tongue or lip is too tight or restrictive. These issues can make it difficult for infants to breastfeed properly, lead to challenges with speech development, or even cause spacing concerns between teeth as children grow.

At Park Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Noto provides frenectomies to release these restrictions and restore natural movement of the tongue or lip. We use the advanced Biolase laser to perform this treatment, which offers many benefits over traditional surgical methods:

  • Quick and precise: The laser allows Dr. Noto to target only the restricted tissue, leaving surrounding areas unharmed.
  • Gentle and minimally invasive: No stitches are required, and the procedure is virtually blood-free.
  • Faster healing: Children typically experience less discomfort and recover more quickly than with traditional techniques.
  • Better outcomes: Improved tongue and lip mobility can support feeding, speech, and oral development.

Infant Frenectomies

For babies struggling with nursing due to a tongue-tie or lip-tie, a frenectomy can make a significant difference. Improved mobility often leads to better latching, more efficient feeding, and greater comfort for both baby and mother.

Adolescent Frenectomies

Older children and teens may benefit from a frenectomy if a tight frenum is impacting speech, causing orthodontic issues, or creating gum recession. With the Biolase laser, treatment is simple, effective, and designed to support long-term oral health.

At Park Pediatric Dentistry, we understand that any procedure involving your child can feel overwhelming. That’s why we take time to explain each step, answer your questions, and ensure your child feels safe and cared for throughout the process.

Oral Sedation

At Park Pediatric Dentistry, we know that some children need extra support to feel calm and relaxed during dental treatment. Whether your child has dental anxiety, a strong gag reflex, or requires a longer procedure, oral sedation can make their visit more comfortable and stress-free.

Oral sedation involves giving your child a safe, prescribed medication before their appointment to help them feel drowsy and relaxed, while still remaining awake and responsive. This allows Dr. Noto and our team to complete treatment smoothly while keeping your child at ease.

Benefits of oral sedation include:

  • Reduces anxiety and fear of the dentist
  • Makes it easier for children to stay still during treatment
  • Provides a more positive dental experience for children who may otherwise struggle
  • Safe and effective under the supervision of our experienced pediatric dental team

Your child’s safety is always our top priority. We will carefully review your child’s health history, explain the process in detail, and monitor them closely throughout the appointment. Our goal is to make dental care not only possible, but comfortable.

Hospital Dentistry

For some children, the best way to complete necessary dental treatment is in a hospital or surgical setting under general anesthesia. This approach is often recommended for very young children, children with special healthcare needs, or those requiring extensive dental work that would be difficult to complete in the office.

At Park Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Noto provides hospital dentistry services to ensure every child can receive the care they need in a safe and supportive environment. Working alongside an experienced anesthesia team, Dr. Noto is able to complete all necessary treatment in one visit—helping your child avoid repeated appointments or overwhelming stress.

Why hospital dentistry may be recommended:

  • Extensive cavities or dental work needed
  • Severe dental anxiety that cannot be managed with other methods
  • Young children unable to tolerate treatment in the office
  • Children with special healthcare needs who require extra support

While hospital dentistry is not needed for most patients, it is sometimes the best and safest choice. At Park Pediatric Dentistry, we are committed to guiding families through this process with compassion, transparency, and care, so every child can achieve a healthy smile in the way that works best for them.

Emergency Dental Care

Dental emergencies can happen when you least expect them, and they can be especially stressful when it’s your child in pain. At Park Pediatric Dentistry, we’re here to provide prompt, compassionate care when accidents or urgent dental issues arise.

Whether it’s a sudden toothache, a knocked-out tooth, or a dental injury from sports or play, Dr. Hannah Noto and our team are experienced in treating a wide range of pediatric dental emergencies. Our priority is to relieve your child’s discomfort quickly, protect their oral health, and restore their smile.

Some of the more common dental emergencies we treat include:

  • Severe toothaches or swelling
  • Chipped, fractured, or knocked-out teeth
  • Injuries to the lips, tongue, or gums
  • Dental infections or abscesses

If your child is experiencing a dental emergency, call our Lafayette office right away. Dr. Noto is on call 24/7 for true emergencies, and we’ll give you guidance on what to do at home and arrange an appointment as quickly as possible. For severe injuries or emergencies outside of office hours, we will provide instructions to ensure your child gets the urgent care they need.

At Park Pediatric Dentistry, we know dental emergencies can be overwhelming. That’s why we’re committed to being a reliable, calming resource for your family—helping you and your child navigate the unexpected with confidence and care.