Kid's Dentistry in Gretna, LA
At NOLA Dentures and General Dentistry, Dr. Russell Schafer believes that good oral health starts at a young age. For this reason, we take children’s dentistry in New Orleans very seriously! We encourage all parents to bring their children in for regular dental appointments, and we will happily work with you to help your family develop stronger dental habits for your home.
Our Gretna pediatric dentist, Dr. Schafer, enjoys treating our younger patients—whether it is seeing a toddler for their very first teeth cleaning, providing a safe treatment environment for a child, or helping a teenager achieve a perfect smile.
No matter what your child’s dental needs are, our caring kid’s dentistry treatment team can work with you to maintain their smile and provide quality treatment. We offer a variety of services for children’s dentistry in Gretna, and we can schedule your family for a dental appointment ASAP. Please call us at NOLA Dentures and General Dentistry today at (504) 392-5104 to get started.
First Dental Visit for Toddlers
It’s never too early to start bringing your child to the dentist. Even if your child doesn’t have any teeth yet or is too young for dental treatment, just spending time in our dental office helps familiarize your child with the unique sights and sounds. The more time your young child spends around the dental chair, the less afraid they will be as they get older.
At NOLA Dentures and General Dentistry, we believe in early, consistent children’s dentistry in Gretna. Dr. Schafer follows the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry's recommendation that a dentist should see your child within the first six months of getting their first tooth or by their first birthday, whichever comes first. As soon as your child’s first tooth erupts, you can schedule a dental appointment with us!
Dentists used to recommend that children see a dentist at age three, but we now know that children can learn healthy dental hygiene routines earlier in life. Dr. Schafer likes to see a child sooner to ensure that they develop good habits of brushing and eating right from an even younger age. Sadly, we see cavities in toddlers’ smiles that are entirely preventable through better oral hygiene at younger ages.
Your child’s first dental appointment helps make a good impression on them for years to come, which is why our Gretna kid’s dentist works hard to keep each pediatric dental patient comfortable and happy whenever they visit. If your young child is ready for their first dental visit, don’t delay! Call us at (504) 392-5104 to schedule a time for pediatric dentistry in New Orleans.
Teeth Cleanings for Children
Once your child is more comfortable visiting the dentist, we will work with them to strengthen their teeth-cleaning routine.
Dr. Schafer recommends that parents help their children clean their teeth until the child is around six or seven years old. A good milestone is when a child can cut meat on their plate, as it requires about the same level of hand-eye coordination to cut meat as it does to brush teeth. However, many kids still require parental supervision when cleaning their teeth, even beyond the age of seven. Another good rule is that when you feel confident that your child can wash the dishes without assistance, they can probably clean their teeth by themselves as well.
During teeth cleanings for your child, our pediatric dentist and his dental hygienists will coach both you and your child on the best brushing techniques. This helps your child keep their pearly whites clean and sparkling. After we finish the full teeth cleaning with our dental instruments, we will give both you and your child a toothbrush so we can watch how you brush and provide feedback if necessary.
Our kid’s dentist in New Orleans wants to see your child thrive. If your child is past due for their teeth cleaning, or if you have questions about their brushing habits or oral health, don’t hesitate to contact us at NOLA Dentures and General Dentistry. You can call us at (504) 392-5104 to speak with a member of our dental office or to schedule a dental appointment with Dr. Schafer.
Fixing Childrens’ Cavities
Our philosophy at NOLA Dentures and General Dentistry is that kids should enjoy coming to the dentist regardless of whether or not they have cavities.
Unfortunately, sometimes despite our best efforts, our children get cavities. Dr. Schafer is a general dentist who has extensive training and experience treating cavities in children as young as two years old. If your child has cavities and needs dental fillings in Gretna, LA, we can help.
Dr. Schafer uses nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, for his youngest patients, as it is safe and effective for treating their cavities. Laughing gas gives his pediatric patients the best possible experience. Laughing gas, combined with encouraging words and distraction techniques, helps many kids not even realize that any treatment is happening. Also, you are always allowed in the treatment rooms to observe your child's treatment.
Cavities in children are never ideal, but our experienced dental team can fill your child’s cavities in New Orleans with ease. If your child needs a dental filling, call us today!
Cosmetic Dental Treatment for Teenagers
Dr. Schafer understands that teenagers have many tough pressures from peers to have a great smile. For this reason, he is proud to offer simple, non-invasive cosmetic 
treatment for his teenage patients. We believe that beautiful smiles shouldn’t be reserved for just adults, so we perform several types of cosmetic dentistry on younger smiles.
If your teenager is interested in cosmetic dentistry in Gretna, Dr. Schafer will happily work with them. Our non-invasive cosmetic dentistry treatments include bleaching to make a smile whiter and cosmetic bonding to fill in gaps or fix chipped teeth. Dr. Schafer prefers these cosmetic treatments over others for teenagers because the procedures are simple, they do not harm the teeth, and the patient gets a smile they want.
Call Us to Schedule Pediatric Dentistry in New Orleans
If you need dental treatment for any of your children under the age of 18, you can bring them to NOLA Dentures and General Dentistry for high-quality kid’s dentists in Gretna.
Is your toddler due for their first teeth cleaning? Do you need a second opinion on what treatment options are available for your child? Or maybe your high schooler wants to have brighter teeth for the upcoming dance? No matter your family’s needs, we offer a children’s dentistry service that can keep their teeth healthy and improve the look of their smile.
To schedule a dental appointment with our pediatric dentist in New Orleans, you can call us today at (504) 392-5104, and we will get you on Dr. Schafer’s treatment calendar. You can also use our convenient online scheduling feature, located on the “Contact” section of our website, to request your dental appointment.
We look forward to seeing you and your child at our Gretna, LA dental office sometime soon!
Frequently Asked Questions
In dentistry, patients are typically considered children until they reach the age of 18. From their first tooth to their teenage years, children’s dental care focuses on growth, development, and prevention. Pediatric dentists specialize in this stage, offering care tailored to young mouths—including everything from teething relief and fluoride treatments to orthodontic evaluations and wisdom teeth monitoring.
Child Dental Care: What Is It?
Child dental care is more than just cleanings. It’s about building lifelong habits and spotting potential issues early. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends (https://www.aapd.org/assets/1/7/DentalHomeNeverTooEarly.pdf) that a child’s first dental visit come at the earlier of their first birthday or six months after their first tooth erupts. This early start allows the dentist to monitor oral development and help parents with at-home care strategies.
As kids grow, regular checkups every six months help manage cavity risk, monitor jaw alignment, and address concerns like thumb-sucking or early bite issues. Teenagers benefit from pediatric-focused care, especially with orthodontics, sports mouthguards, and wisdom tooth assessments.
And After Age 18?
Once a child turns 18, they typically transition to general dentistry—although different practices handle the timing differently. Until then, consistent care under a pediatric or family dentist helps set the foundation for a healthy adult smile.
Supporting Young Smiles in Gretna, LA
If you're looking for a Gretna dental practice with experience and expertise guiding youngsters through the vital stages of dental development, contact Dr. Russell Schafer and the friendly and helpful Nola Dentures team to schedule an appointment!
Common dental problems in kids include cavities, teeth grinding, early tooth loss, and oral injuries.
Of course, cavities are the most common childhood dental issue, which is why your child’s dentist in Gretna may recommend a dental sealant to keep bacteria away from tooth enamel.
Teeth grinding, also called bruxism, is another common problem affecting children and adults. Our dentist can create a custom nightguard to prevent nighttime grinding and clenching.
It’s also essential to keep baby teeth healthy until it’s time for them to come out on their own. This is because baby teeth hold spaces for adult teeth and contribute to a level bite.
Finally, dental emergencies are common in childhood—sometimes due to rough play or during sports. Therefore, we provide prompt dental emergency treatment for patients of all ages.
Your Child’s Dentist in Gretna Promotes Prevention
Bring your child to the dentist twice yearly for checkups and teeth cleanings (when age appropriate). The dentist can ensure that teeth are healthy and there are no signs of bruxism.
Additionally, assist your young child in daily brushing and flossing to prevent cavities.
Children’s Dentistry Near Me
If you would like to arrange a dental visit for your child or have questions for the dentist, give us a call today.
Most kids start losing baby teeth when they are 5 or 6 years old. The first tooth to fall out is generally the lower front tooth followed by the upper front tooth. The adult teeth then start coming in. Usually, the back adult teeth (6-year-old molars) come in around the same time as the lower front teeth. I do warn parents though that these are not hard rules and every child develops differently. As a rule of thumb, most girls lose teeth before boys do. I have had 4-year-old girls lose their front teeth while I've had 9-year-old boys not lose a tooth yet. In both extremes, there is no need to worry as long as all the adult teeth are present. If the adult teeth are not present, then I recommend that an orthodontist evaluate the child to look at the need for braces.
I like kids to see an orthodontist when their two front top teeth are in and their 
six-year-old molars are present. Many issues are easiest to evaluate at this point and if any treatment needs to be done, this is generally the earliest it will ever be started. At this point, if braces are needed, an orthodontist can evaluate the best time to start. While many orthodontists will not start until a child has lost all of her baby teeth, I would prefer a child to see an orthodontist two or three years too early than to see an orthodontist two or three years too late.
The first thing to do is to calm down your child so that you can take a look and see what has happened. Teeth that get hurt badly can be sensitive
to touch or be broken, and the gums can bleed a little. If the tooth is broken, try to find the broken piece as it can possibly be reattached. Also, the lips and inside of the cheeks can be cut by the sharp edges of the teeth. To try to "self-diagnose" the problem, a good reference that Dr. Schafer uses is The Dental Trauma Guide. This website is extremely detailed, and although it's mainly meant for dentists, most lay people can understand it as it is well laid out and has well-labeled pictures.
Make an Emergency Dental Appointment
If your dentist is open, you should call to make an appointment as soon as possible. If you believe that your child needs immediate attention and it is after hours, you should take your child to New Orleans Children's Hospital as generally, a pediatric dentist is on call or another local children's hospital that has a dental clinic associated with it. Thankfully, as kids generally heal well and the mouth probably heals faster than any other area in the body, most trauma can be handled with little long-term consequences.
Meet Our Doctor:
Russell Schafer DDS
Dr. Russell Schafer is happy and proud to call New Orleans his home. He was born in New Orleans, raised in Pearl River, and attended Jesuit High School and graduated in 2003. He went to Rice University in Houston where he graduated with a bachelors and masters in mechanical engineering degree. While at Rice, Dr. Schafer was a a cheerleader for all four years, active in Rice Catholic Student Association as well as student government, and tutored fellow students as well. Before attending dental school, Dr. Schafer spent ...
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