Infant Dental Care
Our free-of-charge Infant Dental Care check-ups are designed to give a child a "dental home" by the age of 12-18 months and provide anticipatory guidance to parents. Infant oral health visits in our office provide you with a complimentary exam at a critical time in a child's life, when diet, habits, oral hygiene, and forming smiles are all occurring. We want to help you raise cavity-free children! Dr. Greg is a founder of the Cleft Lip and Palate Team at Poudre Valley Hospital and is a Cavity-Free at Three technical assistance provider for Colorado's infant oral health initiative. He knows babies!
Emergency Care
Part of Dr. Greg's job is to be available to the community for emergency patient care, whether or not a child is an established patient. Dr. Greg will answer his cell phone or home phone for emergencies 365/24/7. Generally speaking, Dr. Greg treats emergencies in his office with parent assistance and does not recommend first-aid treatment at the hospital. If in doubt or you need this service, his cell phone is (970) 481-6728, and his home phone is (970) 204-4004.
Special Needs
A large part of Big Grins is treating children with special needs. All children are special and all have specific needs, but Dr. Greg is well-versed in medical diagnoses and conditions that require specialized skills. Each day, time is set aside in the schedule and staff are freed up to slow the pace and care for our special-needs patients. Patient families who have a child with autism, cerebral palsy, a heart condition, Down Syndrome, hemophilia, cancer or other condition requiring discreet, specialized advice and care are welcome here.
Second Opinions / Referral Care
Pediatric dentistry is unique in that we offer comprehensive care, but we also play the role of dental specialist to assist our Family and General Dentists. If you or your dentist would like limited treatment, a new perspective, or reassurance, we can help. Often, general dentists refer an anxious child for fillings, which we can do quickly, allowing the dentist to continue a good relationship with the child for preventative care. Mild anxiety can be treated in the office with nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and years of experience in understanding child behavior. And, Dr. Greg has hospital privileges should your child require coordination with medical providers in a hospital settings.
Hospital Dentistry
Dental restoration under general anesthesia is a serious undertaking. If your child needs this service, Dr. Greg can guide you through the process with sensitivity and follow-up care. With hundreds of cases to draw from, he is the most experienced dentist practicing hospital dentistry in Northern Colorado. He is well-versed and well-connected to work with your child's physician in providing combination, under-anesthesia services a child might need ranging from ear tubes to impacted toenail removal. Dr. Greg has privileges at Poudre Valley Hospital on Lemay Avenue in Fort Collins.
Nitrous Oxide ("Goofy Gas")
Nitrous oxide is an inert gas that acts on the same receptors in the brain as narcotics, but for a much briefer time. Because of this, nitrous oxide provides excellent pain relief, makes time seem to go by faster or allows for distraction, and controls anxiety. These effects occur within three minutes, and the gas leaves the body in three minutes. Nitrous oxide is a mainstay of children's treatment because it is so safe and fact-acting with little or no side effects. Dr. Greg is a master at using nitrous oxide with children. In fact, he is the nitrous oxide course instructor for Front Range Community College.
Digital X-rays
X-rays show bone and tooth structure through skin and tissue. They are instrumental in detecting weak spots or cavities between teeth. Dental x-rays use a small amount of radiation to yield this image on a film. The amount of radiation is so small it is difficult to measure, but it is on the order of the same amount you get from a few hours playing in the sun at this altitude. Digital x-rays use computers instead of film and are much more sensitive. They require about one-tenth the amount of radiation to produce an image. Digital x-rays also do not require film processing, which creates lead and silver waste.