Bluebird Pediatric Dentistry in West Jefferson

Hi, and thank you for reaching out. We do not use any filling materials with mercury in them in our office. We offer white fillings, white crowns, and stainless steel crowns along with other options for arresting tooth decay that are all mercury-free. When you come for your visit, we will explain any recommendations that we have and talk to you about the materials we would use for each specific scenario. Thank you for your question.

Thank you for your question. We offer two different options for general anesthesia for our patients. Both Dr. Hardaway and Dr. Tashakkori have privileges at Watauga Medical Center to provide dental care for patients in the hospital setting. We also offer general anesthesia right in the Bluebird Pediatric Dentistry office. We have two excellent anesthesiologists who come in to provide that service while our doctors focus on providing the dental treatment that our patients need.

We offer sealants and think they are a great safety net for cavity prevention on teeth. Dental sealants work to prevent cavities by sealing pits and fissures that naturally occur in molars. Sealants “seal off” the pit and fissure of your molars to prevent food and plaque from collecting and forming cavities. Sealants adhere to the chewing surface of your back teeth. They’re no substitute for brushing and flossing, but they can keep cavities from forming and may even stop early stages of decay from becoming a full-blown cavity. In fact, sealants have been shown to reduce the risk of decay by nearly 80% in molars.

Thank you for reaching out. We offer nitrous oxide relaxation in our office for our patients who would benefit from a little anti-anxiety medication. Nitrous oxide is a very safe way to provide that without having a full day of feeling different like an oral medication might. We recommend that you teach your child how to and practice breathing deeply in and out through their nose at home before their appointment to help the therapy be most successful. For children who may need something stronger to help them relax for treatment, we offer two options for general anesthesia both in the Bluebird office and at Watauga Medical Center. We will discuss all your options at your visit and help determine which of these choices would be best for your child.

Yes! Our doctors have a special interest in helping patients who have trouble breastfeeding, transitioning to solid foods, swallowing, sleep, nasal breathing, and speech development. These issues are sometimes related to tethered oral tissues (lip and tongue ties). We offer releases of tethered tissues with a LightScalpel CO2 laser that allows us to perform the procedure quickly without the need for general anesthesia or sutures. Using the laser for this treatment is a state of the art method that our doctors have spent many hours in training and certification.

Yes! Both Dr. Hardaway and Dr. Tashakkori are specialty trained in pediatric dentistry. They are highly qualified to treat patients with physical, mental, and developmental special health care needs. We strive to provide a compassionate environment that is supportive to all families and patients and especially those with special health care needs.

Yes, we do offer this revolutionary treatment option for the management of tooth decay. Silver Diamine Fluoride is an antimicrobial liquid that is able to treat some cavities in a non-invasive, fast, affordable, and painless manner. Some patients who have active tooth decay may be eligible for an alternative treatment that uses Silver Diamine Fluoride. Compared to traditional fillings, teeth that are eligible for this treatment can often be treated much faster and without numbing! Not all teeth will qualify, but it is another tool that we can use for treating tooth decay. It is a liquid that is simply brushed on to the cavity that can stop current decay and also prevent new decay in the future. Two or more applications are needed to arrest the decay and keep it stable. Many times, this treatment is used to stabilize teeth until definitive treatment can be provided, but sometimes it is the only treatment the cavity requires.