Behavior Guidance in Palos Heights, IL
Some children have a fear of dentists and dental procedures. Who can blame them? The dental office has sights and sounds that are completely unfamiliar. At our office, Palos Heights pediatric dentist Dr. Richard Facko makes your child’s positive dental experience a top priority.
At our Palos Heights pediatric dental office, we strive to create a comfortable atmosphere so your child views dental treatment as a normal part of health care and not something to be feared. Our advanced behavior guidance methods can determine your child’s relationship with dentistry for a lifetime. The goal of behavior guidance is to provide necessary dentistry to your child while avoiding unnecessary anxiety and stress.
A Customized First Visit
From the very beginning, we will tailor your child’s dentistry to their unique needs. We will gauge the level of comfort your child has in our office and, depending on their cooperation, proceed when possible. We start slowly by showing them around the office and familiarizing them with our team as well as the dental environment.
Tell-Show-Do Method
We prepare your child for their first time dental treatment by utilizing the Tell-Show-Do method of behavior guidance. We start with a verbal explanation of treatment tailored to your child’s communication level.
Next, we transition to showing your child what to expect by demonstrating the experience using the five senses. We allow them to hear the equipment working, such as suction and hand pieces. We allow them to handle the equipment as safe and appropriate. This is accomplished carefully in a non-threatening way.
Once your child has been familiarized with the procedure, how it will go, and what will be used, we proceed with the treatment in a gentle and compassionate manner.
Modeling Method
If your young child has an older sibling that is comfortable with dental work, the modeling method can be valuable. We allow a younger sibling to observe their big brother or sister receiving 
treatment. This method allows your young child to know exactly what to expect when it is their turn and can help eliminate some of the fear of the unknown.
Distraction Method
Because children typically have short attention spans, we use the distraction method to help them be still and focused while their treatment is completed. Dr. Facko provides televisions in his treatment area to allow children to be entertained during procedures.
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) inhalation is a safe and effective method for calming an anxious child. Not only does it dull any uncomfortable sensations and create a feeling of mild euphoria, but it also increases the effectiveness of local anesthetic. By relaxing your child, nitrous oxide can assist in reducing the gag reflex and allowing your child’s treatment to be completed in a more timely and effective manner. Nitrous oxide also wears off quickly, allowing your child to return to normal activity immediately.
Call to Schedule Your Child’s Appointment at our Palos Heights Office!
Your child’s dental health experience depends on a great foundation. Call our Palos Heights pediatric dental office to schedule a visit. Dr. Facko and his highly skilled team look forward to creating a positive experience for you and your little one. You can also check out a more detailed breakdown of dental costs here.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I brush my child’s teeth?
I always recommend brushing twice per day, once in the morning and once before bed. The timing of the first brushing isn’t critical – it can be as soon as your child wakes up, before or after breakfast, or before he leaves for school. At night, it is best to brush right before bed. After your child’s teeth have been brushed at night, he should not have anything else to eat, and only water to drink. Rather than fight the food battle at my house, my kids know that if they eat after they brush, they just have to brush again before they go to bed.
Is an electric toothbrush better?
Research studies regarding electric toothbrushes has been flawed – it is almost always performed by the companies that manufacture and sell electric toothbrushes. There’s a more recent study that was designed properly and did actually show that patients brushed better with an electric toothbrush than a manual toothbrush. For kids – I would say use whatever they like. If they don’t like the feeling of an electric toothbrush, there’s no way that they will be as effective with brushing as a manual toothbrush, regardless of what anyone says. Also, even the most expensive toothbrush doesn’t do anyone any good if it’s buried in a bathroom drawer and never gets used. Toothbrush effectiveness is more about time and technique than it is about the tool that you use.
What kind of toothpaste should we use?
I always recommend using fluoride toothpaste. For younger children who are still swallowing the toothpaste, I suggest using a small amount – like the size of one or two grains of rice. Once children are able to spit out the toothpaste, you can increase the amount to the size of a pea. Adult toothpaste has the same amount of fluoride as kids’ toothpaste. The main difference is the flavor, but adult toothpaste can also have additives for whitening, sensitivity, etc. I would try to find a flavor that your child likes, whether it’s fruity kids toothpaste or mint flavored adult toothpaste.
When do we start flossing?
Cavities on the baby teeth are most common in those in-between areas – where two teeth touch. While your first thought might be that flossing is the best way to prevent cavities between the teeth, the research doesn’t support that idea. The best way to prevent any cavity on any surface of a tooth is to drink water and white milk only, avoid sticky sweets and brush twice per day with fluoride toothpaste.
Studies regarding the benefits of floss are very conclusive that floss does help to prevent gum disease, but gum disease tends to be a problem in adulthood, not childhood. I do believe that flossing daily is a great habit for children to get into, but I would never sacrifice time or effort with tooth brushing in order to add floss to their routine. When you feel that your child has mastered tooth brushing, then I think it’s appropriate to encourage flossing daily.
Establishing Trust With Your Palos Heights Dentist
If you think your child will have a difficult time cooperating, it is a great time for you to come in! We would rather meet your little one several times for happy check-ups so that your child gets to know our office and builds trust with our team. This way, if your child is ever in need of dental treatment or has an emergency, cooperation will be easier because they will have established a level of trust with us.
The Importance of Regular Dentist Visits
For children who are inherently anxious, regular dental visits are even more important. If we can see your child regularly for cleanings and check-ups, we can help keep your child's teeth healthy. Healthy teeth mean fewer appointments, less invasive treatment, fewer missed days of school, no dental pain, and less anxiety about the dentist.
Meet Our Doctor:
Richard Facko DDS, MS
Meet Dr. Richard Facko: Your Pediatric Dentist
Dr. Richard Facko, DDS, is the founder and Pediatric Dentist at Palos Pediatric Dentistry, PC. Since founding the practice in 2013, he has been dedicated to providing a high level of care for the families in his hometown. Dr. Facko has been a pediatric dentist since 2012 and loves guiding child patients toward finding the confidence in themselves to experience the dentist without fear.
Education & Certifications
Dr. Facko's roots are in the Southwest Suburbs of Chicago, where he grew up and attended Palos 128 and ...
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When you see a baby with a pacifier, you don’t think anything of it, and when a toddler gets upset and sucks their thumb, you know they are trying to calm themselves and feel better.
Lots of kids use a pacifier or suck their thumb when they’re little. Although it’s perfectly natural for infants and young children to soothe themselves in one of these ways, there can be some adverse effects on their dental development.
So, when you want your child to stop using a pacifier or sucking their thumb, what are ...
Nitrous Oxide for Anxious Kids
Whenever possible, we work with families to help prevent cavities in children. From healthy diet to brushing techniques, our office focuses on prevention at each check-up visit. Sometimes, children with cavities are referred from other offices. At other times, despite everyone's best efforts, one of our regular patients is diagnosed with cavities. Don't worry! We have plenty of treatment options to keep your children safe and comfortable throughout the whole process!
For children without anxiety, or with a minimal amount of anxiety related to dental treatment, nitrous oxide may be the ...