Honoring our veterans and heroes this Memorial Day weekend

Memorial Day weekend is a time Americans remember all those who bravely gave their lives for our country. Dr. Matt and our team also know it's the unofficial start of summer, and for many kids, getting out of town for three days with parents after being in school all these months is sure to be sweet, sweet relief.

At Smiles Dentistry for Kids, we know Memorial Day weekend is ripe for travel. After all, it’s unofficially the start of summer and time for a season full of vacations, adventures and great memories with parents or friends. What are you up to this Memorial Day weekend? What will you be doing on your day off from school or work?

Whether you are headed to a barbeque, a camping trip, hitting the great open roads of America or just having fun in the sun this weekend, we’d like to hear all about it! Enjoy the holiday!

Is your child afraid of the dentist?

Dr. Matt knows some children fear going to the dentist, and this morning, we found a great article on how to help your child overcome fears of visiting our office, courtesy of our friends at WebMD.

Serving Overland Park, Olathe, Kansas City and the surrounding areas of Kansas and Missouri, it is our goal to make your child's first dental experience a positive one. Whether it's a simple checkup or restorative care, Dr. Matt Hillman & our experienced team at Smiles Dentistry for Kids provide comprehensive gentle dental care in a comfortable and welcoming environment. In fact, most of our kiddos look forward to their next visit! Schedule an appointment by calling (913) 685-9990, and we'll see you soon!

Ask Dr. Matt: When is it time to schedule an appointment for my child?

Dr. Matt Hillman and our staff at Smiles Dentistry for Kids want to know: is your child brushing his or her teeth twice a day? If the answer is yes, that’s fantastic! But, it’s also important for your child to visit Dr. Matt every six months (or as recommended) in addition to brushing his or her teeth and flossing. Regular dental checkups, after all, are important for maintaining good oral health. Dr. Matt can:

• Check for problems in your child's mouth that might not be seen or felt
• Detect cavities and early signs of decay
• Treat oral health problems early
• Show your child how to properly brush and floss his or her teeth

During an oral exam, we will also check the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. Checkups will also include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing. If your child has not visited Smiles Dentistry for Kids in the past six months, it’s time to schedule an appointment with Dr. Matt by calling (913) 685-9990.

See you soon!

Everybody’s Brushing with Dr. Matt!

At Smiles Dentistry for Kids, we agree with Dr. Matt's advice: don't forget to brush your teeth! Check out this fun video we found about brushing your teeth!

Tooth Fairy “Tooth” Box

For your child, losing their first tooth, or any baby teeth for that matter, can be exciting! They might ask you, "what do I do with my lost tooth?" Well, you simply place it under your pillow at night and when you are fast asleep the tooth fairy will come and whisk your tooth away leaving behind a special gift just for you! Here's a great craft project for you and your child from Disney that will make the tooth fairy’s job a little easier and give their tooth a special place to stay until it is taken away.

Tooth Fairy “Tooth” Box

What you will need:
• 1 large empty match box
• Enough felt to wrap the box and inside sliding tray
• Ribbon
• Glue (tacky glue or a hot glue gun)
• Markers
• White, pink and blue (or your child's favorite color) felt for decorating the matchbox
• Scissors

Step 1: Pull the inner tray out of the box and line the inside with glue and felt as shown. Wrap the outside of the box with felt and glue it in place.

Step 2: Glue ribbon to the outside of the box in a hanging loop shape. Fold another piece of ribbon in half and glue it to the bottom of the inner tray to create a handle for sliding it in and out.

Step 3: Draw a tooth shape on paper, cut it out, and trace it onto the white felt twice. Cut out the teeth and face details.

Step 4: Decorate the teeth with the eyes and cheeks and draw on a mouth. Glue one tooth to the outside of the box.

Step 5: Create a tooth pocket by applying glue to the sides and bottom of the remaining tooth as shown, leaving an opening at the top. Glue the pocket to the inside tray. Once the glue dries, the box is Tooth Fairy-ready.

Now your child can put the tooth inside the inner pocket and hang it outside their door before they go to bed!

We hope you enjoy making your Tooth Fairy Box!

- Dr. Matt Hillman, and team

Ask Dr. Matt: Why are regular dental checkups so important for my child?

Thanks for the question! No matter what your age, visiting Dr. Matt Hillman and our experienced team at Smiles Dentistry for Kids on a regular basis will help keep your child's teeth and gums healthy, and their smile bright!

Our friends at the American Dental Association recommend that you and your child visit the dentist every six months for regular checkups and routine teeth cleanings. Dr. Matt and our staff would love to see your child here every six months to make sure that his or her smile is staying healthy!

We understand that you have a busy schedule (especially during the fall), so while we like to make sure your appointments are informative, we also like to make sure they don't stop you from doing the things you love! When preparing to visit our convenient Overland Park office, please know that your appointment can last anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes.

When it's time for your next dental appointment with Dr. Matt, please call (913) 685-9990, and our friendly office staff will be ready to help you schedule a time for a visit! Have a wonderful and relaxing Easter weekend!

What puts you or your child at ease at Smiles Dentistry for Kids?

Happy Friday! Dr. Matt Hillman and our staff are well-aware that not every child is always thrilled to visit the dentist. But at Smiles Dentistry for Kids, we strive to bring your child the best and most comforting experience at each of his or her visits.

Today, we’d like to know: What is it about our convenient Overland Park office that makes your child comfortable or puts him or her at ease? Is it something about our pleasant office environment? Our friendly professional staff? Perhaps it's something about Dr. Matt?

Let us know by posting on our Facebook or Google page!

Have a wonderful weekend!