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From Kirkland to Redmond and Kenmore to Bothell, the best pediatric dentist in Washington state is Signature Smiles. We are a trusted pediatric dentist working out of our Woodinville office and can be found online at MindBodyAndSmile.com.

Pediatric Dentist Woodinville, Washington

Not only are both Dr. Wu and Dr. Dowd parents of their own children, but they have had the wonderful experience of working in clinics exclusively treating pediatric patients. Dr. Wu's two-year residency program consisted of extensive pediatric training as well as oral medicine and oral surgery. His love of working with kids led him to an associate position at the modern and notoriously busy Joe Whiting Dental Clinic (a pediatric public health clinic) in West Seattle.

There, he served the local community by providing much needed dental care to underserved kids. Dr. Wu fondly talks about his time at the pediatric public health clinic as one of the most rewarding and touching experiences of his life. It's that experience which helps to place us amongst the best pediatric dentists in the Kirkland, Redmond or Bothell areas that parents can trust in completely.

First Visit

We believe in the power of positive energy; and having good, clean fun is probably the most positive energy there is. So it makes sense that a first visit to the dentist should not only be informative but also be a delight as well. We know the value in taking the time, allowing the child opportunity to take it all in. We believe time is the best thing we can give our children and yours, so it is our number one priority. From our neat toys (air and water blowers) to our cool chairs and "Roo" the brushing kangaroo, we find that kids feel comfortable with our natural ease. Our goal is to have an absolutely positive second, third, fourth and every visit. Our unique, caring approach is what sets us apart as Kenmore, Washington pediatric dentists.

Sealants

Sealants are resin composites placed over and in the grooves of the teeth's chewing surface to seal the grooves from harmful bacteria that cause cavities. They sound good, however, to do a sealant correctly it ends up being a filling.

When placing sealants there cannot be excess moisture and so a rubber dam is needed. The organic plug should be removed with a bur and the groove should be widened to allow good flow of the resin in the groove-done with a bur. The surface is etched and rinsed, bonding resin is placed, and THEN the sealant is applied. Essentially this is called a filling.

Let's see how sealants are USUALLY done:

No rubber dam (so you have MOISTURE. NO!). No bonding agent, so the bond is mechanical and not chemical. Translation: weak bond to the tooth. So what happens? The edges of the sealant chip and break microscopically, allowing in bacteria underneath the sealant. The dentist has a difficult time evaluating these leaks until the sealant breaks off, or the cavity is large enough to show up on the x-ray. Either way, the cavity is now moderate to large in size. So, seal or no seal?

Our vote is to leave it alone unless it has a cavity. To seal every groove with a sealant and do it the usual method is a disservice. Not all grooves develop into cavities. If in the future a cavity starts, it can be detected early (while the decay is small), restored and sealed correctly with a filling. Parents looking for a careful, measured pediatric dentist in Redmond, WA, have found that Signature Smiles of Woodinville is the solution they've been waiting for.