The Age 1 Dental Visit

Wednesday, May 2, 2012 by Michelle Stafford, DDS

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) both recommend that children be seen at Age 1 for their first dental visit. At the first visit, your pediatric dentist will generally complete a lap-to-lap exam to ensure there are no abnormal development issues or pathologies that you need to be aware of,… Read the Rest >>

Health Apps – Do you use them?

Thursday, February 23, 2012 by admin

We love technology at World of Smiles, Pediatric Dentistry and always want to be on the cutting edge! (Look for our World of Smiles app coming soon!) When we were doing some research, we ran across this great article on whether health apps are really effective or not.

Some experts estimate that 500 million customers will be using them by 2015 and according to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, 17 percent of cell phone users look up health or medical information on their devices.

Give Kids A Smile!

Thursday, February 2, 2012 by Michelle Stafford, DDS

This Saturday, the Washington County Dental Society member dentists and their assistants and community volunteers, will be partnering with Pacific University’s School of Dental Health Sciences to offer free dental care to children in our community.

World of Smiles, Pediatric Dentistry is excited to participate again for a fourth year and support the dental hygiene students in their goal of providing healthy smiles to happy kids!

For more information on Give Kids A Smile events happening nationally, visit their website at http://www.givekidsasmile.org/.

What is Holistic Dentistry?

Thursday, January 5, 2012 by Michelle Stafford, DDS

What is holistic and sustainable dentistry?

We define holistic and sustainable dentistry as treating the whole child and family in a safe and intentional environment. Our goal is to provide a positive learning experience for each child that we meet, and we work with parents to identify the contributing factors to their child’s decay. Our extensive patient interview, Oral Hygiene Instruction, Nutritional Counseling, and the use of the Cari-Free Program all play a part in treating our patients.

Regular Dental Visits = An ounce of prevention!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011 by Michelle Stafford, DDS

You may have heard the old adage, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In health matters, this folk statement is more than true. Unfortunately, due to economic restraints and “tightening-the-belt” budgeting, our doctors are finding that more and more patients are putting off regular dental care in favor of “when it hurts I’ll fix it!”

Dental care should have a different focus than simply “fixing the broken part” when necessary – akin to the idea of forgoing regular car maintenance and spending more dollars at the pump and mechanic shop when several issues that could have been prevented if caught earlier all combine into one large fix-it bill. Having a healthy mouth and body occurs when families are working toward daily habits of health, including a visit to a health professional regularly.

Scented Memories

Tuesday, November 22, 2011 by Michelle Stafford, DDS

Walking into my grandmother’s house, the smell of baked bread would often waft through the door. Even today, when I take a loaf of crusty bread from the oven, my mind flashes back to times sitting on a barstool at the kitchen counter, slathering butter and homemade jam over a warm, gooey slice.
Smells and memories are very much intertwined. The scent of a particular perfume may remind you of a Great-Aunt long gone, or the smell of a favorite dessert may remind you of a family event from childhood that meant very much to you. Smells can also trigger negative feelings and memories; perhaps the smell of burning rubber reminds you of the time your car broke down in the rain, on the way to an important meeting. Certainly the smell of a medical or dental office has its own unique memory association; perhaps the clinical smell of the waiting room or exam seats bring instant fears to the surface.
Because our goal at World of Smiles is to create a positive, warm, and inviting environment for children to become acclimated in, smell becomes a large factor in what we try to provide. Ensuring that we steer clear of that “dental office smell” which can trigger fearful memories in both children and their caregivers is a top priority. We are able to achieve a non-clinical type smell by avoiding certain dental products that foster that smell, and we use our favorite Scentsy warmers to provide a welcoming scent when our families walk in, usually of warm vanilla.

Cedar Mill Cider Festival!

Monday, October 10, 2011 by Michelle Stafford, DDS

The Fifth Annual Cedar Mill Cider Festival will be held on Sunday, October 16 from 1-4 pm on the grounds of the John Quincy Adams Young House on Cornell Road just east of 119th, next to the Cedar Mill Bible Church.

See how the pioneers made cider with antique, hand-cranked presses, and sample the results. Listen to a great bluegrass and old-time music band, and enjoy a delicious local lunch. Find out more about Cedar Mill history and the plans for the historic JQA Young House. Browse craft booths and learn about local organizations.

Dental Care and Children with Special Needs

Friday, August 5, 2011 by Michelle Stafford, DDS

Your child has a set of flip cards to help him with his daily schedule; one difference in his day, and the world can seem to end. Or perhaps your child has a debilitating fear of change and new experiences. Going to a new toy store or grocery store can be a challenge, not to mention coming to a medical facility. What can you do?

World of Smiles is a Red Tricycle Favorite!

Friday, March 18, 2011 by Michelle Stafford, DDS

World of Smiles, Pediatric Dentistry was recently featured as a favorite in the Portland family newsletter and activity website, Red Tricycle. If you’re looking for a fun place to eat or an adventurous time in the city, this is the spot for you to visit! Their self-proclaimed mission is to “help parents have more fun with their kids” and what better way than to explore family friendly ideas and find something ‘out of the box’ for memory making.

Introducing our newest team member!

Wednesday, March 9, 2011 by admin

We want to offer a warm welcome to our newest team member, Kylie! We’re excited to have her expertise on board and hope you’ll join with us in offering her your welcome.