A pediatric dentist for Loomis families

Well water, PCWA, and fluoride in Loomis

Loomis has a small-town, semi-rural feel, and that shows up in an unexpected place: your kitchen faucet. Where your water comes from can change how we plan your child's fluoride care.

Many Loomis homes are on Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) water. Fluoride from PCWA can vary by address, so look up the agency's water-quality information or annual report for your area.

Some homes in the Loomis Basin rely on private wells instead. Well water carries whatever fluoride occurs naturally in the ground, and that amount differs from one well to the next. A water test is the only way to know your level.

Three steps to a fluoride plan

1. Find your source

   A PCWA bill means agency water. If you don't get a water bill, ask whether your home uses a private well.

2. Get the number

   PCWA customers can check the annual report. Well owners can ask a water-testing lab to measure fluoride, often alongside other routine tests.

3. Share it with us

   Bring the result, or a photo of it, to your child's next appointment.

With that number in hand, we can recommend the right mix of in-office fluoride varnish, fluoride toothpaste, and, in rare cases, a supplement. Knowing the level helps us avoid giving too little or too much. Our guide to fluoride toothpaste for kids explains how much to use at each age.

Calm, unhurried visits for every child

Some kids walk in ready to climb into the chair. Others need more time, more predictability, or a different approach altogether. We plan for both.

• Special needs friendly. Whether your child has autism, sensory sensitivities, or a medical or physical condition, tell us what helps and we'll plan the visit around it. See special needs dentistry.
• No surprises. With our tell-show-do approach, nothing happens without an explanation first.
• Easy to get in. The office is wheelchair accessible, with free parking close to the door.
• Extra support when it's needed. Sedation options are available for children who can't comfortably get through treatment otherwise.

Our guide to dental visits for children with autism and sensory sensitivities has ideas for preparing at home, such as practicing with a toothbrush and talking through each step ahead of time.

The drive from Loomis

Most Loomis families can get to our Roseville office in about 15 to 25 minutes.

• Interstate 80 west is the quickest route for many, especially from homes near the freeway.
• Taylor Rd runs through town alongside I-80 and makes a good surface-street option.
• Sierra College Blvd heads south toward Granite Bay and east Roseville, which can be simplest from the southern side of Loomis.

Loomis Union, Del Oro High, and school dental forms

Loomis Union School District serves local children from kindergarten through eighth grade. For the high school years, Del Oro High School on Taylor Rd is part of the Placer Union High School District.

Starting school: the KOHA form

When your child first enrolls in a California public school, the state's Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment asks for a dental check. The paperwork comes from the school, the exam can happen any time in the 12 months before enrollment, and the deadline is May 31 of that first year. A screening done in TK carries over to kindergarten, and the school can give you a waiver form if an exam isn't possible. Bring the form to a checkup and we'll handle the dental part.

Del Oro teens

High schoolers are still growing, and their newer molars and gums need attention too. Booking a few months ahead makes it easier to fit a checkup around classes and practice. We see patients up to age 18.

What a regular checkup includes

Most children do well with a checkup every six months. At each checkup and cleaning, we:

• look over teeth, gums, and bite, noting how new teeth are coming in;
• take low-dose digital X-rays only when they're useful;
• polish away plaque and tartar;
• review your fluoride source and update the plan if anything has changed, like a new well test or a move;
• talk about sealants once permanent molars appear.

You're welcome to stay chairside, and every visit ends with a stop at the treasure chest. Families from other towns nearby can find their page under areas we serve.