A Dental Home for Springdale Kids
EXPERT CARE DELIVERED BY A BOARD-CERTIFIED PEDIATRIC DENTIST
Children benefit from having a dental home where their care is delivered by the same team each time. A dental home allows the dentist to understand how a child’s teeth, bite, and oral habits develop as they grow. What’s even more important is that kids get used to the team and the dental office. This makes dental visits much easier and more comfortable for them.
Dr. Jessica Sliger is a board-certified pediatric dental specialist who provides dental care for infants, children, and teens. The team is also trained to support children with autism and other special healthcare needs. Dr. Sliger is able to build relationships with each child and their family to ensure each visit is a positive experience.
Our practice prioritizes minimally invasive treatments wherever possible, and we look at each patient’s needs holistically. The treatment plans we create focus on preserving the natural tooth structure and supporting long-term oral health. This is especially important for children who feel anxious or need additional support.
Preventive Dental Care
SUPPORTING HEALTHY SMILES AS CHILDREN GROW
Preventive care plays an important role in children’s dentistry. Regular preventive appointments allow us to keep track of each child’s teeth and bite changes at each visit and identify any concerns early. This way, they can be treated before they become more complex oral health issues.
At Smile Shoppe Pediatric Dentistry Springdale, our preventive care treatments include comprehensive dental evaluations and professional dental cleanings. We also provide advice to families about brushing and flossing techniques that can be used at home. These at-home hygiene routines help lower the risk of cavities and support healthy young smiles.
Baby teeth play an important role in speech development, chewing, and ensuring the permanent teeth erupt into the correct position. Protecting baby teeth is an important part of what we do because they support healthy oral development.
Our Children's Dentistry Services:
Support healthy tooth development for kids
Treat cavities and dental concerns early
Monitor teeth and jaw growth over time
Fluoride and Hydroxyapatite Options
PROTECTING AND STRENGTHENING ENAMEL
Fluoride varnish is a common treatment in pediatric dentistry, used for strengthening tooth enamel and reducing the risk of cavities. It works by stimulating the natural remineralization of enamel.
At Smile Shoppe Pediatric Dentistry Springdale, we also offer hydroxyapatite as a fluoride-free option if families prefer that. Hydroxyapatite is a mineral that naturally occurs in tooth enamel. It can help support enamel strength and maintain mineral balance in the teeth.
Fluoride-free toothpaste options are also available. Dr. Sliger can provide further information about the options available if you would like to discuss the best option for your child.
Pediatric Dental Crowns
RESTORING THE TEETH AFTER EXTENSIVE DECAY
When a tooth has significant decay or damage, a dental crown may be needed to strengthen and protect the remaining tooth structure. Stainless steel crowns are commonly used for baby teeth, especially on the molars, because these crowns are highly durable and provide an excellent level of protection for kids. Esthetic crown options are also available at our practice. This includes zirconia crowns and esthetic-coated stainless steel crowns that provide a more natural look while still protecting the tooth adequately.
If your child needs a crown, Dr. Sliger will talk to you about crown options and what is best suited to your child.
Cavity Prevention and Early Treatment
CONSERVATIVE CARE FOR DEVELOPING TEETH
We use a range of early treatment options to prevent cavities and decay in children, and conservative options for treatment when problems arise:
Dental Sealants
Sealants are applied to the molars and premolars so bacteria and food particles can’t get lodged in the grooves of the teeth. Doing this protects against decay. It is a conservative treatment and a quick and painless procedure that can make a big difference to a child’s oral health in the long term.
Curodont
Curodont is a noninvasive, drill-free treatment option often recommended when early decay is identified. It helps to stimulate enamel remineralization and can prevent, and even reverse, decay with just one quick, pain-free treatment.
Silver Diamine Fluoride
Silver diamine fluoride is a colorless or tinted liquid used to treat tooth sensitivity and as a form of fluoride varnish to prevent decay or slow down its progression.
Tooth-Colored Fillings
When cavities do occur, it’s important to restore them so further damage doesn’t arise. These fillings are color-matched to the child’s teeth so they blend into their smile.
Dental Bonding
Bonding restores damaged areas of the teeth. The material used is a high-quality composite that can be applied and shaped before being cured into place when the final result is achieved.
Bioclear
Bioclear restorations can repair teeth with minimal preparation and are ideal for small cavities. It is an alternative treatment to crowns, fillings, and veneers that allows the patient to keep more of their natural tooth structure.
Sedation Dentistry for Children
PRIORITIZING COMFORT DURING TREATMENT
Some children benefit from sedation to help them feel more comfortable while they undergo dental treatment. Sedation options are recommended for children who feel anxious, require extensive treatment, or have special healthcare needs.
Smile Shoppe Pediatric Dentistry Springdale offers:
- Nitrous oxide (laughing gas)
- Oral conscious sedation
- Intravenous (IV) sedation administered and monitored by a certified registered nurse anesthetist in our office
For children who require more advanced care, Dr. Sliger also provides hospital dentistry through Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Hospital dentistry allows treatment to be completed safely in a hospital setting when needed.
Baby’s First Dental Visit
EARLY VISITS TO SUPPORT HEALTHIER SMILES
The first dental visit should ideally occur during infancy, within six months of your child getting their first tooth or by their first birthday. Early visits allow Dr. Sliger to monitor oral development and discuss oral hygiene and growth.
At infant visits, the child sits comfortably on a parent’s lap while the dentist performs a gentle evaluation knee-to-knee with the parent. This early evaluation aims to spot any functional issues, including any problems that could impact feeding, speech, or jaw development.
Visiting the dentist early in childhood helps kids become comfortable and familiar with the dental environment. That way, when they’re older, they already know what to expect, and dental visits seem less of a scary thought. These early visits are also a great chance for parents to ask questions about their child’s oral health.
Dentistry for Children With Special Needs
TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE FOR EVERY PATIENT
Smile Shoppe Pediatric Dentistry Springdale provides trauma-informed care for children with autism, sensory sensitivities, and other special healthcare needs. Appointments are adapted to support each child’s comfort and communication needs. For example, if a child needs a longer visit to adjust to the setting, we can arrange that. Our team is also experienced in reducing any potential sensory triggers, and we focus on introducing the dental environment gradually. In some cases, Dr. Sliger may greet a child outside the office or in the family’s vehicle if that helps the patient feel more comfortable entering the practice.
Children with special healthcare needs often continue seeing Dr. Sliger into adulthood because they prefer to remain with a dentist they know and trust. She welcomes patients of all ages and abilities.
Affording Your Child's Care
Smile Shoppe Pediatric Dentistry accepts a range of payment options
Dental treatment can be settled with cash, credit card, CareCredit or iCredit.
Want to know more about CareCredit and iCredit?
These facilities enable families to pay off treatment costs. Check the CareCredit and iCredit websites for more details or chat with a member of our team to find out more. Terms and conditions apply.
