12 Bringing health care news to your home Children need high-quality dental care not only for their teeth, but also for their overall wellbeing. Dental cavities or tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in children, noted Kaitlynn Harvey, DDS, of Columbus Pediatric Dentistry. Over time, untreated dental disease can lead to pain; difficulty eating, sleeping or concentrating in school; infections; tooth loss; or even systemic health problems. For children who need extensive dental work that requires multiple visits, Harvey now offers oral rehabilitation — a surgical solution at Columbus Community Hospital. This comprehensive procedure allows her to perform all the dental care a child needs in a single visit. “By addressing all their dental issues in one visit, we can relieve pain, stop infections and restore function — helping them return to a healthy routine,” Harvey said. “This also gives us a clean slate to help the family build healthier habits moving forward, reducing the chance of future problems.” Who might be a candidate? Typical candidates for oral rehabilitation are children ages 6 years and younger with extensive dental needs. They may have significant tooth decay, dental infections or multiple cavities that would require several appointments — which can be tough for kids to tolerate in a traditional office setting. Smiles Restoring healthy Oral rehab restores kids’ dental health in a single visit Kaitlynn Harvey, DDS, center, enjoys providing dental health education for children.
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