New Patient FAQs

We currently welcome patients from birth through age 12. When children turn 13 at our North Portland location, they ‘graduate’ from our pediatric practice. For our Tualatin office specifically, patients typically graduate around the age of 18. When it comes time for graduation, our team will be happy to provide a list of wonderful, like-minded family dental providers to ensure a smooth transition and continued care.

Our North Portland office is in network with Delta Dental Premier. For all other insurance plans at this location, we collect our office fees in full at the time of the visit. As a courtesy, we will submit the claim to your insurance on your behalf, and your insurance plan will mail you a reimbursement check directly for any portion that they cover. Questions about your out-of-network insurance coverage should be directed to your insurance provider..

Our Tualatin office is in-network with all insurance plans under the Aetna umbrella, including Ameritas, Guardian, and Principal. Tualatin is also in network with Delta Dental Premier, Cigna, and MetLife.

If you have questions about which network your plan falls under, we’re always happy to help check your benefits.

Absolutely. We proudly care for children with special needs and are committed to providing a supportive, patient-centered dental experience. Our team is specially trained to work with children of all abilities, including those with sensory sensitivities, developmental differences, medical complexities, or anxiety.

We take the time to understand each child’s unique needs and adapt our approach accordingly, whether that means longer appointments, gentle communication, sensory accommodations, or a customized treatment plan. Our goal is to create a calm, respectful, and safe environment where every child can feel comfortable and successful.

We also partner closely with parents and caregivers to ensure care is tailored to what works best for your child. In addition to asking for a current list of medical conditions, medications, and allergies, we will ask you what things make your child more comfortable, their favorite things, and things to avoid that might upset them. The more information you can provide us with, the more we can do to create a positive environment for them.

Pumice:  We use a plain, fine pumice paste for our cleanings that is free from additives, fluoride, and any artificial dyes or flavors.

Fillings & Sealants Materials:  We use Admira Fusion material. Admira Fusion is a resin-based material composed of an organic resin matrix and inorganic ceramic fillers, such as silicon dioxide and glass ceramics. It is considered the most biomimetic filling material we have found on the market.

Crown Materials: We offer Stainless Steel Crowns (SSC’s), Zirconia Crowns, and BioFlx crowns. The type of crown/materials used in your child’s treatment plan depends on various factors such as the tooth’s location (front vs. back), patient’s age, any potential metal sensitivity, aesthetic preferences, budget, and oral habits (e.g., grinding).

Other Materials & Options:

• We are a Latex-free office
• We offer Fluoride as well as a Fluoride-free alternative called Hydroxyapatite. We also offer Ozone!

Hydroxyapatite varnish is a protective mineral coating made of the same material teeth are naturally built from. We apply it to strengthen enamel and help prevent cavities. It works similarly to Fluoride, but instead of helping the tooth rebuild minerals, Hydroxyapatite is the actual mineral your tooth is made of, so it integrates directly into the enamel.

We are fortunate to be among a few dental practices in the country trained to use ozone in treatment. Ozone has been used in healthcare throughout Europe and South America for years. Ozone (O3), which is made from the combination of 3 oxygen molecules (compared to 2 oxygen molecules in the air that we breathe) has incredible anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties literally on contact. The applications for Ozone in dentistry are numerous, as the mouth is normally full of bacteria, which can adversely affect teeth and gums. Most dental problems are caused or otherwise affected by bacteria in the mouth. Ozone can be used as a very natural disinfection agent in periodontal (gum) therapy, preventive and restorative dentistry, as well as minimally invasive dentistry, cavity arrest, root canal therapies, and to help heal canker-sores and oral lesions faster.

Ozone is a wonderful addition to the services we offer at Bloom + Brighten Kids Dentistry to help us better serve our patients.

We offer digital x-rays at our office, which offer the lowest radiation possible, and we strictly follow the principles of ALARA or “As Low As Reasonably Achievable” when prescribing radiographs to our patients. We are open to working with families on minimizing radiation exposures, but this must be discussed in-person after we determine what your child’s bioindividual oral healthcare needs are.

We will need periodic x-rays to assess and diagnose your child properly. Without them, we can miss: bone loss, infections and abscesses, cavities, cysts, impacted teeth, bony lesions, missing teeth, extra teeth, orthodontic alignment and spacing concerns, TMJ issues, jaw asymmetry, sinus pathologies and anomalies, and more.

Please share your concerns with us, and we will talk them through. We have a wonderful post-radiograph detox protocol that our team is happy to go over with you. You can find more information about that protocol here: 

Our office offers comprehensive airway screenings, including assessing if your child has restricted oral tissues like tongue or lip tie, and airway consultations to help you determine the root cause of your child’s issues. We will guide you to any additional referrals, services, and interventions as needed. Our Doctors are also proud to offer Myomunchee and Myobrace appliances!

We are on pause with offering frenectomy release procedures due to challenges with scheduling. We know the best local providers to support you and will provide names and referrals as indicated.

Yes. While our practice focuses on a preventive, minimally invasive, and conservative approach to care, we understand that some children may need additional support to receive treatment safely and comfortably. In those cases, we do offer treatment under general anesthesia.

When general anesthesia is recommended, care is provided in partnership with a board-certified Anesthesiologist who specializes in treating children. This allows us to complete necessary dental treatment in a controlled, safe environment while your child is fully asleep and pain-free.

We always consider general anesthesia carefully and thoughtfully, using it only when it is truly in the best interest of your child’s health, comfort, and emotional well-being. Our team will review all options with you, answer your questions, and help determine the most appropriate plan for your child.