Regular examinations and teeth cleanings in Metairie will help protect your son or daughter's smile and dental health.

Dental Examinations and Cleanings | Dentist

Is It Time for Your Child's Next Dental Cleaning?

Dental Examinations and Cleanings in Metairie, LA

At Krewe of Smiles, we welcome parents into the treatment room for dental exams and cleanings – we want parents to be involved with their child’s dental care!

Dental Exams

young boy at the dentist in metairie la We have a fun, interactive approach to our regular dental checkups in Metairie. Your child will be able to wear sunglasses for the bright dental light. Kids can pick out a character toothbrush, fun flavors of toothpaste, and a special prize.

We truly tailor our approach to each individual child. Anxious children may be able to have the exam done in a knee-to-knee position where a parent can help hold and comfort them!

Children need regular, frequent education to encourage excellent home care, so Dr. Massey sees patients every six months for dental evaluations. These evaluations are SO very important for prevention. Preventive visits can keep small dental issues from becoming larger and more difficult to correct. We would much rather treat a dental issue when it is less involved, less expensive, and easier for your son or daughter to manage.

An example of this might be “white spots” that develop under areas where plaque has remained too long, and the underlying enamel has been weakened and damaged. If we can identify these spots early, our team members will show the patient how to better clean these areas. We may place the child on an at-home prescription fluoride regimen to help prevent these white spots from growing into cavities.

Another preventive treatment that is newer and provides a huge help to our patients is silver diamine fluoride, which you may read more about in a different section of our “services.”

Dental Radiographs (X-Rays)

Without X-rays, certain important dental conditions can be missed!

Our office follows the ALARA principle (as low as reasonably achievable) when it comes to radiation exposure. Our families are often surprised that the actual dose of radiation from a digital dental X-ray is incredibly low. Our advanced X-ray technology provides stunning clarity and a way for us to see “between the teeth” so that we can evaluate areas that we cannot see with our eyes. Our panoramic x-ray machine helps us check on teeth positioning, which allows us to intercept any issues that may occur during the mouth's growth and development.

Dental Cleanings

Our dental hygienists provide professional dental cleanings for children that remove plaque, calculus build-up, and bacteria from hard-to-reach areas. Our krewe will also apply fluoride child brushing the teeth of their teddy bear in metairie la varnish, an important mineral for strengthening tooth enamel.

At Krewe of Smiles, each team member is trained to work with small children, anxious children, and children with special needs. We approach the visit in a kid-friendly way, using terms that children can understand, and finish the visit with a reward!

Our krewe will also teach patients the importance of flossing, brushing, and providing at-home dental care tips.

Call Us to Schedule an Appointment

Joining Krewe of Smiles will help provide your child with a great foundation for dental care for years to come. We serve children as young as age one until graduation or later. Call our Metairie, LA dental office today at (504) 838-8200 to schedule an appointment so that your little one can have a really great experience at a dental office made JUST for kids!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should my child see a pediatric dentist?

There’s something special about a kid walking into our office and realizing, “Wow! This is a place meant for ME.”

Kids can see that our beautiful facility is designed with them in mind. Our friendly staff greets and speaks to them in a welcoming way for both children and teens.

Since Dr. Massey is a board-certified pediatric dentist and has an extra two years of training after dental school, she has special knowledge about the growth and development of a child’s mouth. As a result, we can help troubleshoot orthodontic issues early in development, provide sedation for children with dental anxiety, and give recommendations tailored to each child in terms of home care and dietary recommendations.

What if my child cries or does not cooperate?

There is no judgment at our krewe, as we treat even the most apprehensive patients!

It is important for the first dental visit to happen at an early age, so a child can develop trust in us. Even if a little one is not quite ready to cooperate, we work with them until they are ready for a “big kid” visit.

Infant/toddler exams are often done with a parent holding them, which helps comfort children until they are ready to sit in the dental chair. We also offer “happy visits,” where kids can come in, pick a prize, and check out the office on a day when they don’t have an appointment.

We also end each appointment with a special prize – what kid doesn’t love that?

Why do we need to worry about baby teeth? Won’t they just fall out soon?

Baby teeth are important for many reasons. Did you know that 12 of the 20 total baby teeth don’t start falling out until age 10 or later?

Not only are the baby teeth important for chewing, but they help guide the permanent teeth into the correct position. Without them, the mouth may have space loss and need orthodontic correction or even possible extraction of permanent teeth in some cases.

Infected baby teeth can be painful, cause swelling, and occasionally result in hospitalization.

Making oral hygiene a priority in the early years will encourage good habits into adult years, so we work hard at each appointment to teach children ideal techniques and help them build routines that will benefit them for a lifetime.

My child won’t let me brush. What can I do about that?

At your first visit, Dr. Massey will teach you some techniques to make brushing more fun and acceptable to your child. We will sing the “Brush, Brush, Brush Your Teeth Song” and help show parents the best position to hold a child for brushing.

Every child, including our special needs patients, can learn to tolerate brushing with the right tools and assistance. Just as you wouldn't permit your child to skip wearing sunscreen to the beach, for example, it is equally important that the teeth get cleaned twice daily.

In most cases, once a routine is developed, brushing becomes a habit that each child can learn to embrace.

Will my dental insurance cover the visit?

Our philosophy is PATIENT FIRST!

Did you know we offer a complimentary “benefits check” for new patients who are unsure what dental insurance will contribute to the dental visit? We encourage new patients to let us do an investigation into insurance coverage so that we can notify families in advance of what insurance is likely to contribute.

We are committed to helping you maximize your insurance benefits. We will file insurance claims for you and estimate payments due at the time of service, but we cannot guarantee exact coverage due to the complexities of insurance reimbursement rates and specifics related to the particular plan your employer selected.

We believe that the standard of care should always come first. We do not compromise on our recommendations based on your insurance coverage and will let you know about alternative treatments or extra preventive recommendations when appropriate.

Meet Our Doctor:

Dr. Christen Massey

Dr. Massey is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, which is the highest standard of care designation in our specialty. She is a 2009 graduate of Baylor College of Dentistry and attended LSU School of Dentistry for her pediatric dental training. Dr. Massey has numerous years of private practice experience and for a period of time, worked as a faculty member at LSU School of Dentistry.

Dr. Massey has New Orleans roots, but she has lived in Louisiana, Texas, Australia, and Indonesia! Her family relocated often growing up, ...