Northern Virginia Magazine 2008 - Barakat Orthodontics

Recommendations

Info

“Dr. Sharif has a great staff, with gentle hands, happy faces and a kidfriendly office with TV and toys for distraction.” Jennifer Simbulan s“Seven-year-old Maya Simbulan has Osteogenesis Imperfecta [OI], along with Dentinogenesis Imperfecta [DI],” says her mother, Jennifer. These are going to be “lifelong problems for Maya, and so we take care of her teeth with good dental care and hygiene.” Fairfax-based pediatric dentist Dr. Sherry Sharif was Jennifer’s choice. “Dr. Sharif has a great staff, with gentle hands, happy faces and a kid-friendly office with TV and toys for distraction,” says Simbulan, who has a good understanding of Maya’s condition thanks to Sharif. OI is called brittle bone or fragile bone disease. “Patients are prone to bone fractures. They have short stature, triangle-shaped faces and blue sclerae [whites of eyes],” Sharif explains. “They have hypermobile joints and vertebral collapse. Their teeth have yellow/translucent color. They may also have congenital heart defects.” Maya’s treatment is ongoing, with regular recall visits. “Also, she develops dental abscesses brittle bones, fragile teeth 88 • November 2008 • www.NorthernVirginiaMagazine.com due to her weak teeth and needs treatment such as extractions or stainless-steel crowns. She does not yet have any permanent teeth, but her primary teeth are yellow-amber/translucent color particular to DI Type I. Her permanent incisors should come in with normal length and contour,” Sharif shares. Asked about the risks involved, Sharif says, “risks are very minimal if proper infection control protocol and minimally invasive technical procedures are adapted. General anesthesia nowadays administered by pediatric anesthesiologists at Fair Oaks Hospital is very safe and effective.” She adds that it provides peace of mind for the families of an apprehensive child. Jennifer is satisfied. “Maya has dental visits every three months for checkup and fluoride treatment. She also has cleaning every six months. She has been on antibiotics on several occasions for abscesses and currently has one root fracture, which we are just observing for now.” courtesy of jennifer simbulan; istock
courtesy of laurie moore cChildren and adolescents with special needs find a perfect fit with Dr. J. Daniel LaBriola of Fairfax Station. While not primarily a children’s dentist, the Northern Virginia oral/maxillofacial surgeon and his associates can put their unique talents to work in special circumstances. They are able to uncover teeth out of position for orthodontists to follow up, and they use case-specific anesthesia techniques for many types of special-needs patients. Laurie Moore of Goldvein happily traveled some distance to take her autistic son, Chase, to LaBriola’s offices. “Chase is a gentle giant,” explains the proud mother. But the 18-year-old, standing 5-foot-9 and weighing some 240 pounds, needed just the right practitioner when it came time to remove his teeth extraction wisdom teeth. “We had some pretty negative experiences before finding Dr. LaBriola,” she goes on to explain. “Right away, he knew just what to do, and to do it fast. The rapport was wonderful. He understands Chase’s needs and anxiety.” Moore adds that LaBriola will be her pick to work with Chase again on anesthesia for any potential future dental needs. “We like to have a consultation visit to get a feel for the needs of a child with a routine tooth removal,” says LaBriola, adding that knowing the child’s anxiety level helps determine how to proceed: “Local anesthesia, sedation with nitrous “Right away, he knew just what to do, and to do it fast. The rapport was wonderful. He understands Chase’s needs and anxiety.” Laurie Moore oxide, or is there a need for a general anesthetic.” Consultation, however, isn’t always a possibility. In cases of emergencies, where the child is in severe pain or has an acute infection, “then we proceed, maybe starting with laughing gas.” “Most children’s procedures are over in a matter of minutes—the treatment is short and sweet.” LaBriola adds that dental risks in kids are notably different from those of adults. “They can get in trouble fast. An infection can become lifethreatening quickly in a child.” Risks of bleeding and postop infection are also greater in children if proper precautions are not taken. Further, “children have difficulty communicating their needs,” LaBriola notes, especially when a hospital day or night visit is involved. “We make sure they are properly hydrated, taking in calories, able to go to the bathroom, and have pain control” before releasing them, although usually the hospital stay is no more than a single night. All agree that the best way a parent can ensure lifelong dental health for a child is to invest time in conducting the appropriate amount of research, find a dentist in your region with the right rapport, office and training for you and your child, and to start visits early. our dental experts Rana Barakat, DDS 45745 Nokes Blvd., Dulles 703-433-9330 www.barakatorthodontics.com DDS, University of Tennessee 1994 Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontists 12 years in practice Sherry Sharif, DDS 3700 Joseph Siewick Drive, Fairfax 703-620-9122 DDS, Howard University 1993 Diplomate, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry 12+ years in practice L. Daniel LaBriola, DDS 5619 Smoke Rise Lane, Fairfax Station 703-978-7013 DDS, Georgetown University 1976 Diplomate, American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 28+ years in practice 89
Page 2 and 3: Hole in One child dentistry procedu

Northern Virginia Magazine 2008 - Barakat Orthodontics

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?