PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

At Commonwealth Dentistry, we’re happy to help every member of your family. Our board-certified pediatric dentist, Dr. Jennifer Dixon, is here to take care of your children’s dental needs. With Dr. Dixon, we’re able to provide the young members of your family services including preventive dentistry, restorative dentistry, sedation dentistry, and more.

PREVENTIVE

Prevention is the key to making good oral health last a lifetime. We will get your children started on a schedule of good preventive care, from when their first tooth erupts to their last visit when they outgrow our pediatric dental services. For children, preventive care includes anticipatory guidance, routine cleanings and exams, fluoride treatment, sealants, and orthodontic referrals. You can start bringing your child to our dental office at the age of one year old, or when the first tooth erupts – whichever comes first.

Your child will need preventive dental care at each and every stage of their growth. This is because each stage will require unique needs in preventive care.

Jennifer Dixon

Jennifer Dixon

Pediatric Dentist

Dr. Jennifer Dixon is a board-certified Pediatric Dentist. She attended the College of William and Mary, where she graduated with a degree in biology and minor in chemistry, and later earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from VCU School of Dentistry. She then completed a dedicated residency in Pediatric Dentistry at VCU, earning her specialty certificate. While at VCU, she served as chief resident, and earned the prestigious Richard Pugh award for scoring in the top 3% in the country on her Pediatric Dentistry board exam. Jennifer completed a Master’s Thesis on Child Temperament and Conscious Sedation Outcomes. From 2005 to the present, Jennifer has served the Charlottesville community in the practice she started, Charlottesville Pediatric Dentistry. She is the winner of numerous “Best in Cville” Awards. In 2019, Jennifer joined Commonwealth Dentistry in order to serve the community in which she lives. She currently is a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Dental Association, the Virginia Dental Association, and the Richmond Dental Society. Jennifer and her husband Mark live in Richmond with their two children, Kate and Emma, their goldendoodle Max, and their Dutch Warmblood horse Touchdown.
  • Babies can be scheduled for an appointment when they turn one year old or when the first tooth erupts. Baby teeth are placeholders for adult teeth, and they’ll be checked as soon as they are visible. Just like adult teeth, baby teeth are vulnerable to tooth decay.
  • The toddler age is the optimal time to learn good dental habits they’ll need to know for the rest of their life. This is also when they become comfortable going to the dentist – so you can begin scheduling regular appointments for them at this stage.
  • Children from ages 6-12 begin losing baby teeth and gaining adult teeth. With regular check-ups, Dr. Dixon will evaluate their occlusion and refer to orthodontists when needed.
  • For teenagers, proper and safe oral health can depend on hormonal changes, sports, and activities. We recommend teens, and adults, have teeth cleanings and exams every six months or more frequently if they are deemed high caries risk or in orthodontics. Teenagers should also see specialists regularly if they have braces or retainers.

RESTORATIVE

Restorative care is imperative for children and teens with young teeth because dental issues can arise regardless of age. Restorative dental care includes any service we provide to restore your child’s natural smile and oral health when one or more teeth are damaged or missing. Restorative services can include cavity fillings, tooth extractions, crowns, and more.

Tooth damage that necessitates restorative dentistry can be caused by accident or injury, but typically stems from tooth decay. Tooth decay is caused by foods and beverages that wear down the outer layer of your child’s teeth. Sugary foods and poor oral hygiene lead to tooth decay.

SEDATION

At Commonwealth Dentistry, Dr. Dixon and our entire team are committed to making your child’s experience as enjoyable as possible. For some procedures, sedation dentistry may be recommended. We typically recommend sedation for long or multiple procedures, but also for children with fear, special needs, or an inability to sit still. Our sedation options include oral conscious sedation with Dr. Dixon and intravenous sedation with Mobile Anesthesia Partners.