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According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, checkups at Kanawha City Pediatric Dentistry are recommended for all children two times a year. Children should be evaluated for cavities and other emerging dental issues every six months, because these problems can lead to more serious dental problems and health issues if left untreated.

While it is always good to follow the official guideline mentioned above, it is also important to understand that each child is unique and his or her dental needs are equally unique. If your child shows signs of dental or orthodontic problems, Drs. Don and Mindy might recommend more frequent visits.

One way to help your son or daughter maintain good oral health between pediatric dental visits is to monitor brushing and oral care habits, especially if the child is still very young. Children who are two to five years of age will usually still require at least some degree of monitoring during their dental care routine.

The Checkup Visit

During your child’s regular dental care checkups, Drs. Don and Mindy will evaluate the current state of oral health and will be able to recognize any issues. The twice-yearly checkup visits are typically the time at which problems like cavities, irregular growth patterns of the teeth, and oral decay are discovered. Thus, making these appointments for your child, and following through with them, is extremely important.

Learning and Maintaining Good Oral Health

Drs. Don and Mindy and our Charleston staff are your partners in terms of your child’s health care. Even when your child is an infant and a toddler, good brushing and other oral care habits can be taught. We will help you to educate your child about how to care for teeth in the most effective way, and you can carry those lessons home and help your child to follow them for the ultimate in oral health.

Greetings from Kanawha City Pediatric Dentistry. We’ve officially made it to September! The changes of the season are upon us and we are starting to notice the crisp air in the morning and the changing color of leaves. When the seasons change, it also brings us a chance for renewal: maybe starting a new hobby or exercise routine, trying a new recipe, enjoying the outdoors and different plants more, trying a new seasonal fruit (fall is great for lots of different apple varieties). Life is still different during the pandemic and we will sure miss attending football games with fall.

We are celebrating Dr. Don's birthday this month! He will celebrate at home with his family. His wife Nancy has promised to cook some of his favorites for dinner: chicken piccata and Texas sheet cake. We’ve gone ahead and shared the recipe with you so you can try it for your next dinner! Like the name suggests it’s quick pan-fried chicken breasts smothered in a simple pan sauce made with capers, butter, and lemon juice. So much yum!

Ingredient Checklist

-4 eaches skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
-1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
-1 pinch salt and ground black pepper to taste
-¼ cup all-purpose flour for dredging
-2 tablespoons olive oil
-1 tablespoon capers, drained
-¼ cup fresh lemon juice
-¼ cup water
-3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut in 1/4-inch slices
-2 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley, chopped

Instructions

-Place chicken breasts between 2 layers of plastic wrap and pound to about 1/2-inch thick.
-Season both sides of chicken breasts with cayenne, salt, and black pepper; dredge lightly in flour and shake off any excess.
-Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Place chicken in the pan, reduce heat to medium, and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes per side; remove to a plate.
-Cook capers in reserved oil, smashing them lightly to release brine, until warmed through, about 30 seconds.
-Scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Cook until reduced by half, about 2 minutes.
-Stir lemon juice, water, and butter into the reduced mixture; cook and stir continuously to form a thick sauce, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low and stir parsley through the sauce.
-Return chicken breasts to the pan, cook until heated through, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve with sauce spooned over the top.
Since we’ve reopened with our new safety procedures our office has run very smoothly and efficiently. We continue to keep up with the latest CDC, ADA, and WVDA guidance for appropriate PPE. Our patients have shared with us that they greatly appreciate the care we have taken to keep both them and our team safe during this pandemic. They have also been so helpful in following our recommendations for safety in the office such as mask-wearing, pre-screening questions, temperature checks, and limiting the number of people. Thank you to everyone who helps make this all easier!
COVID has been in the center of everyone's thoughts and actions for several months now. We finally feel comfortable with our new normal and can again begin to concentrate on the positives of what our team loves to deliver: making every patient feel at home and providing top-notch dental care for them when they visit us.
We still have numerous patients who had to cancel their appointments during the COVID quarantine. We are working hard to contact and reschedule these patients because we realize the importance of routine care, especially during these challenging times. If any patients have missed a check-up, please feel free to call or text us at 304-926-9260 or email us at pediatric-dentistry@donskaffdds.com. We miss you and would love to see you again soon!

Molars are made up of canyons, caves, pits, and seemingly endless caverns that are a breeding ground for decay. The protective solution is a sealant. When done correctly, a sealant from Drs. Don and Mindy of Kanawha City Pediatric Dentistry can be most effective in preventing cavities.

A sealant is made up of composite (a plastic-like) material that contains bonding agents to seal to the edge of the tooth. Sealants placed on the chewing surfaces of back teeth block food from being trapped. The process in which a sealant is placed is quite precise and painless.

First the tooth is cleaned with a sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) spray. Then an acid etch is applied to “roughen up” the surface. No saliva is to touch the tooth. This will re-mineralize the area, then a repeat etching is needed. An alcohol-based liquid then dries out the area and it must remain completely dry. The sealant is placed and guided through all the caverns, pits, fissures, and grooves. It is then cured with a special light, which makes it a hard, plastic-like material.

Sealants can last for several years. It is wise to have them examined on a semi-annual basis. If there is a break in the sealant, a high risk for decay is common. If a sealant is damaged, repair is simple, painless, and quick to complete.

Who can benefit from sealants? Anyone! Children often receive sealants as routine preventive care. Adults with deep canyons with stained grooves on their teeth can also benefit from a sealant. The process is quick, painless, and does not require any anesthesia. It is an effective way to lower dental restorative costs.

An investment in dental sealants can reap great benefits as properly cared for teeth will remain cavity free. Our Charleston location is available to answer your questions so give us a call today!

Sealants offer many benefits, but the best is their ability to protect your molars. Molars are full of small caverns that can be the perfect breeding ground for tooth decay and plaque buildup.

Use of protective sealants prevents this buildup from happening. Although children often receive sealants for routine preventive care, they aren’t the only ones who can benefit from this treatment. Sealants can also help adults who have deep canyons or grooves in their teeth.

They are commonly placed on the rear molars that tend to suffer the most decay. Because your molars are used substantially as grinding surfaces, food is more likely to be trapped among them.

Sealant solution consists a composite material that contains bonding agents that seal the top of your teeth. The process is quick and painless, which makes it a great solution for both children and adults who have had trouble with cavities and tooth decay. Sealants also last for several years, and repair is a simple process that can be completed by Drs. Don and Mindy.

The process of putting sealants on teeth starts with the tooth getting cleaned. We clean it with a type of baking soda spray called sodium bicarbonate. Then acid is etched onto the teeth to rough up the surface.

We apply an alcohol-based liquid to dry the area where the sealant is supposed to go. After it completely covers the surface of the treated teeth, the sealant is cured with a light that makes it hard and long-lasting.

Getting sealants can prevent the possible restorative costs that come from cavities. Sealants help to protect your tooth’s enamel from harmful acids and prevent decay, which can be an investment in itself. The whole process is quick, so it should be easy to schedule an appointment at Kanawha City Pediatric Dentistry.

Feel free to call our Charleston location and we can answer any questions you have about this service.