COVID-19 NOTICE - CLICK HERE FOR STEPS WE ARE TAKING
WELCOME TO KIDS HEALTHY SMILES!
Kids Healthy Smiles…the dental office of Dr Luisa Tchou and Dr Erika Granada.
Our entire team looks forward to meeting you and your child.
We provide high quality dental care for children from infancy to late adolescence in a child-friendly environment as well as orthodontic treatment for patients of all ages.
Using the latest advances in both dentistry and orthodontics, our friendly team strives to make your child’s visit effective and enjoyable every time.
Superior oral health is vital for a child’s development and we are here to help every step of the way.
Call 954-590-8454 or email us to inquire about our services or to schedule an appointment.
* * * WE ACCEPT MEDICAID * * *
Luisa Tchou
DDS, DMD
READ BIO
Dr. Luisa Tchou earned her Dental Degree in 1998 from Saint Thomas University in Colombia S.A. shortly after she arrived in the United States. After starting a family, Dr. Tchou went to Nova Southeastern University and she received a second dental degree in 2011 and has worked in her lifelong dream of working in Pediatrics.
Wanting to give back to the community, Dr. Tchou volunteers at the clinic of the church Our Lady Queen of Peace in Delray Beach, helping on low income and the underprivileged children population. She also takes her knowledge and expertise on an International Organization called Mission of Love that provides dental and psychological care to underprivileged population in areas around Medellin, Colombia.
Dr. Tchou resides in Boca Raton with her husband and two sons and a sweet bulldog. She is passionate about Latin music, Zumba Fitness and enjoys jogging and biking.
Erika Granada Ramirez
READ BIO
Dr Erika Granada was born in Cali, Colombia. She earned her degree from Universidad Del Valle in 1998, and completed a postgraduate program in Orthodontics in 2012 at Universidad Autonoma (Mexico). She worked in her country and in Mexico as an orthodontist for 8 years. She moved to US and attended two programs in Nova Southeastern University: Master of Public health and an Advanced Education in General Dentistry where she provided dental care to patients with special needs and gained interest in working with children. She graduated in 2015 and is a member of the American Dental Association, Florida Dental Asociation, American Association of Orthodontists, World Federation of Orthodontists and Colombian Association of Orthodontist. Her primary goal is to make each dental visit as positive and fun as possible, making dental experience pleasant and relaxing for both patients and their parents. She enjoys traveling, cooking, latin music and yoga.
PEDIATRIC SERVICES
We provide the following:
First visit and regular check ups.
The American Academy of Pediatric dentistry (AAPD), recommends seeing a dentist when the first tooth appears, usually between six and twelve months of age. The first visit to a dentist can be a stressful experience both for parents and children, but at Kids Healthy Smiles, we want to help you put those concerns and anxieties aside. During the first visit, the doctor will perform a gentle examination of the oral cavity, including teeth, jaws, bite and gums to monitor growth and development and observe any areas of concern. If necessary, X-rays may be taken for a complete examination. At Kids Healthy Smiles, we use digital X-rays to minimize radiation to our patients.
Your child will also receive a gentle cleaning, which includes polishing teeth and removing any plaque, tartar buildup or stains.
After their first visit, children should receive a dental checkup at least twice a year. Kids Healthy Smiles uses these checkup appointments as a way to monitor the child’s oral growth and get an early jump on any potential issues. In addition, routine bi-annual exams give the dentist an opportunity to develop an ongoing relationship with both parent and child.
Sealants
Fillings
A filling is used to restore a tooth damaged by decay or trauma back to its normal function and shape. The doctor will remove the decayed tooth material, clean the affected area, and then fill the cleaned out cavity with a filling material. At Kids Healthy Smiles, we avoid mercury based (Amalgam) fillings and instead we use tooth-colored composite fillings.
Since the enamel covering the baby teeth is thinner than adult teeth; tooth decay can therefore penetrate faster and move into the central pulp or nerve area and spread into an infection. Thus, it is extremely important to detect cavities during their initial stages, so that they can be repaired with a filling and avoid more complex and painful treatments.
Baby teeth also play an important role in helping kids learn to speak and chew food in a proper manner for a good nutrition. They also save space and guide the adult teeth to their position. Baby teeth need to be intact and in good condition for your child’s overall health.
Pulpotomy
If decay extends beyond the hard tissues (enamel and dentin) of a tooth and reaches the soft tissue (pulp) inside the tooth where the nerve and vessels are located, then a procedure called pulpotomy is indicated.
A pulpotomy removes part of the pulp (nerve) of a tooth to prevent, or treat, the formation of an abscess (infection of the nerve). A medicated filling material is placed into the nerve space and a Stainless Steel Crown (cap) is then used to restore the tooth.
Nitrous oxide (Laughing gas)
Nitrous oxide has been used in dental procedures for 100 years. It’s an extremely safe way to make sure your child is comfortable during uncomfortable dental procedures. Nitrous oxide is a gas with a property to give a mild sedative effect that can be easily controlled. It is used in combination with oxygen and does not disrupt normal breathing.
Nitrous oxide is very commonly used with children. If your child needs nitrous oxide, we simply fit a small mask over his nose and request that he breathe normally.
Your child will not be asleep or feel overly drowsy but simply relaxed, happy and comfortable. It will not prevent your child from understanding and responding to instructions at all points during the visit. His arms or legs may feel heavy, but he will have no problem moving. The effects of nitrous oxide go away just a few minutes after the mask is removed, so there is little to no recovery time before your child is feeling back to normal.
Prenatal and Infant Oral Health programs
Pregnancy is an important and exciting time for a woman. It is also a very important time for the unborn child’s oral health. Studies have shown a correlation between gum disease in mothers with baby low birth weight, preeclampsia and maternal diabetes. They have also demonstrate that mothers with cavities tend to have children with more severe cavities. Mothers also can pass cavity-causing germs to their children. This is why, at Kids Healthy Smiles we have a unique program that incorporates expectant mothers and current infant mothers into the office to help them develop healthy oral practices for them and for the future children.
Once a month, we gather at our office for an educational meeting to discuss on topics such as oral hygiene (for expectant mothers and infants), nutritional guidance, breastfeeding and baby’s mouth, growth and development of the oral cavity, baby bottle tooth decay, pacifiers and thumb sucking, importance of baby teeth, teething, injury prevention, emergencies.
Space is limited for the program, RSVP is necessary. Please call us to reserve your spot on the next meeting!
Fluoride treatment
Fluoride is a mineral that is found naturally in water and many foods. Fluoride helps the enamel (outer surface of the tooth), stay strong and protects it against the acids that cause cavities and tooth decay. It also repairs teeth in the very early stages of tooth decay.
The AAPD (American Association of Pediatric Dentistry) encourages fluoride treatment for children and states that professional fluoride treatments are beneficial and best utilized as part of a comprehensive preventive program developed by your dentist.
Digital x rays
X-rays are a very important aspect of the comprehensive dental exam and may be taken in order for the doctor to visualize problems that can’t be seen during the oral exam. X rays will allow the doctor to search for cavities between teeth, monitor teeth and mouth injuries, see how the teeth are growing and also to evaluate the number, size and position of the permanent (adult) teeth.
We use the newest X-ray techniques in digital technology to minimize radiation exposure. Our office also utilizes a lead apron to help keep radiation exposure minimal. Your child’s safety is at most important to us.
Pediatric crowns
When decay is very extensive, a filling won’t be strong enough to maintain the integrity of the tooth. In those cases the AAPD recommends restoring the tooth with a pediatric stainless steel crown (cap) or a tooth colored crown. After removing the decay and thoroughly cleaning the decayed area, the doctor will fit and cement a prefabricated crown over the tooth.
Extraction
A baby tooth must be removed (pulled) if it is so badly decayed, broken or damaged beyond repair. Children getting braces may need to have some teeth extracted to allow teeth to move to their proper positions also. If an extraction leaves a space between two teeth and we feel it is necessary, we may insert a device called a space maintainer to make sure the adult teeth erupt in their proper space.
At Kids Healthy Smiles, we understand that having a tooth removed is a frightening experience for both parents and children. Our office is uniquely tailored to make sure our little patients are comfortable during all procedures.
SDF (Silver Diamine Fluoride)
SDF is an alternative method to treat young children with cavities. It has been used for over 80 years in Europe and Asia and is now approved by the FDA to be used in the US. SDF is a medicament whose main purpose is to stop cavities from progressing. It does not restore the tooth structure as other restorative procedures (fillings and crowns) do; it only prevents the cavity from getting bigger. It is generally considered safe for use in toddlers and children.
At Kids Healthy Smiles, we use SDF as a medicament to delay more invasive treatment until child is older.
SDF is applied every six months until the child is old enough to receive dental treatment.
If you think your child has cavities and are worried about them being able to sit through a dental procedure such as a filling or crown, come and visit us and we can talk more about SDF treatment.
ORTHODONTIC SERVICES
We understand that there are many offices available to you for orthodontic care. Choosing the right place to create your child (or your) new smile is a very important decision. At Kids Healthy Smiles, we offer a complimentary new patient consultation to help you make the right decision.
At Kids Healthy Smiles, we care about our patients like family. During your consultation, the doctor and her staff will answer any questions or concerns you have about orthodontic treatment. We want you to be comfortable and happy with the decisions you’re about to make regarding your smile.
We provide the following:
CONSULTATIONS
During your first appointment, the doctor will perform a thorough examination of your child’s face, teeth jaws and smile and will discuss of possible treatment options. This important visit will last 30 minutes and it will give us an insight into your orthodontic needs. We may also schedule an additional hour following the exam to take diagnostic records.
These records including low dose X-rays, photos and impressions for study models, and are important to help us create an appropriate treatment plan that will be discuss with you at the end of the appointment as well as your payment options.
Please assist us by providing the following information at the time of your first visit:
- Any panoramic X-ray taken within the past six months
- If you have orthodontic insurance, please bring your insurance card so we can provide a quicker estimate of your costs.
PEDIATRIC ORTHODONTICS
Many orthodontic conditions detected during the pre-teen and teen years can be easily corrected if your child is evaluated and treated at an early age. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all children receive his or her first orthodontic screening by age 7. Early orthodontic treatment, also known as “Phase I” treatments, help correct existing problems and will guide the growth and development of teeth and jaws to ensure your child’s smile is healthy and beautiful.
Some problems we look at this age are:
- Open Bites
- Under/Overbites
- Missing/Extra teeth
- Excessive spacing
- Crossbites
- Oral Habits (thumb or finger sucking, tongue pushing)
Benefits of Phase I Treatment and Early Intervention
- Increasing your child’s self confidence and self esteem.
- Guided facial growth for a more attractive face and profile
- Guide permanent (adult) teeth in to a more favorable position.
- Reduce or eliminate the need to extract teeth by creating additional space.
- Reduce the risk of injury to protruded front teeth.
- Improve speech and swallowing
- Correct habits
TEEN ORTHODONTICS
Usually starts between the ages of 12 and 16 because most permanent teeth have grown in by this time. Some of the issues that are easily detected at this age are: gaps, crowding, bite problems and crowding (misalignment) of teeth. Bone and jaw structure have sufficiently formed to allow orthodontic treatment to begin. It is also the time for children who have had Phase 1 or Early treatment to have a follow up appointment to decide if they would benefit from full braces or other type of orthodontic treatment (Phase 2).
This is also the age where many kids and teens develop a heightened awareness of themselves, their appearance, and their relationships with friends.
Braces and other orthodontic treatment can help your teen feel confident about having a healthy smile.
BRACES
Regardless of your age, braces are often the best option to help getting your teeth straight.
Braces work by applying continuous pressure over a period of time, by using a system of wires and brackets to slowly move teeth in a specific direction. As the teeth move, the bone changes shape as pressure is applied. Once the braces are removed (typically in one to two years), you are left with straighter teeth, proper jaw alignment and a dazzling smile.
At Kids Healthy Smiles, we offer two different types of braces:
- Traditional metal braces: This is the most common type of braces. We use high technology braces, which are more comfortable today than ever before. With metal braces, you have the option of adding colored elastics (rubber bands) for a unique and colorful smile.
Ceramic braces: Since they are made of clear materials, ceramic braces are less visible on your teeth than metal braces. For this reason, ceramic braces are used mainly on older teenagers and adults who have cosmetic concerns. While they are visually less prominent, they do require more attention to oral hygiene, as ceramic braces are larger and more brittle than their metal counterparts. For these reasons, ceramic braces tend to be used more on upper front teeth than on lower teeth.
EMERGENCIES
True orthodontic emergencies are rare, but when they do occur Kids Healthy Smiles is here to help you at anytime.
Orthodontic Emergencies: When to Call Us
Loose brackets and poking wires can be irritating and frustrating, but as long as you come in to have them repaired within the first few days after an issue arises, you or your child will not be at risk for any adverse impacts on your treatment. If you think you have an emeregency, we encourage you to contact us and make an appointment to have your orthodontic appliances examined and repaired.
It is also important to note that taking proper care of your appliance and wearing a mouthguard during sports and physical activities is the best possible way to prevent minor (or major) orthodontic emergencies, when combined with an effective oral hygiene routine.
General Soreness
When you first get your braces, and occasionally following adjustments, you may feel general soreness in your mouth, and your teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. Rinsing your mouth with a warm saltwater mouthwash can often relieve this. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in 8 ounces of warm water, and rinse your mouth vigorously. If the tenderness is severe, take whatever you normally take for headache or similar pain. If pain persists, contact us.
The lips, cheeks and tongue may also become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen any discomfort. We will show you how to use the wax when we provide your kit at during the initial placement of your orthodontic appliance.
Loose Appliance
If your appliance is poking or causing discomfort in your mouth, place wax on the part that is bothering you until you are able to contact us for an appointment to have it examined and repaired.
Loose Bracket or Band
If your bracket or band is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it. If the wire comes out entirely, wrap the bracket with a tissue. Then you should immediately contact us for an appointment to have it examined and repaired.
Loose Wire
You can use tweezers to try to put your wire back into place. If doing this and using wax doesn’t help, you can snip the wire behind the last tooth to which it is securely fastened. If your discomfort continues, place wax on the wire and contact us for an appointment to have it examined and repaired.
Poking Wire
You can use a pencil eraser to push the poking wire down, or place wax on it to alleviate the discomfort. If the discomfort continues or the poking wire is severe, please contact us for an appointment to have it examined and repaired
ADULT ORTHODONTICS:
Braces and orthodontic treatment, benefit not only kids! Many adults and even seniors can now enjoy the benefits of having a healthy mouth and a smile they have always dreamed of.
Teeth can be straightened not only because of cosmetic reasons. Teeth that are aligned are easier to clean and prevent cavities and other dental issues. Aligning the jaw can reduce bruxism and symptoms of TMJ disorder.
Having a great smile will make you feel confident with yourself and succeed in your career and in your personal relationships.
RETAINERS
Teeth have a tendency to shift to their original, pre-treatment position once the braces are removed. Retainers are a necessary and important part of orthodontic treatment. Retainers are the final phase of orthodontic treatment. Retainers are necessary to ensure that your teeth remain in their ideal positions once treatment has been completed. There are different types of retainers, and the doctor will discuss with you the benefits of each one of them and the most indicated retainer for each specific case.
Home Remedies & Interim Care for Minor Orthodontic Issues
You may be able to temporarily solve many problems at home until you can schedule an appointment with our office. When working with your appliances, you need to know the names of the parts of your appliances so you are able to identify which part is broken or out of place. After alleviating your discomfort, it is very important that you still call our office as soon as possible to schedule time for repairs. Allowing your appliance to remain damaged for an extended period of time may result in disruptions in your treatment plan, potentially lengthening your treatment plan.
KIDS CLUB PROGRAM
Some of our youngest patients, will not need immediate treatment and Dr Granada will take a “wait and see” period in which she will regularly check every 6 months on the development of the permanent teeth, jaw and face. The Kids Club program will assist your child to become more comfortable and knowledgeable about braces and orthtodontic treatment when in fact they begin.
Every 6 months your child will be monitored until the right time in growth has been reached to begin orthodontic treatment. During these appointments digital radiographs and diagnostic records (if needed and recommended by the doctor) may be taken. There is NO FEE associated with this program.
You child will be signed up to the program, if the doctor do not recommend immediate treatment during your child’s initial examination and he or she will receive a membership card.
Every 6 months he or she shows up at his/her routine appointment, he or she will receive a special reward. So put your membership card someplace special and don’t forget to bring it with you to every appointment.
INSURANCES ACCEPTED
MEDICAIDS:
- DENTAQUEST
- LIBERTY
- MCNA
- HEALTHY KIDS
PPO’S:
- AETNA
- AMERIPLAN
- AMERITAS
- ASSURANT
- BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD
- BLUE DENTAL CHOICE
- CAREINGTON
- CENTRAL STATE
- CIGNA
- CONNECTION DENTAL-GEHA
- DELTA
- DENTAMAX
- DENTEGRA
- FLORIDA COMBINED LIFE
- GUARDIAN
- HUMANA
- LINCOLN FINANCIAL
- METLIFE
- MUTUAL OF OMAHA
- PRINCIPAL
- RELIANCE STANDARD
- SOLSTICE
- TEAMCARE
- UNITED CONCORDIA
- UNITED HEALTHCARE
HMO’S:
- HUMANA-COMP BENEFITS
- METLIFE – SAFEGUARD
- UNITED HEALTHCARE/ SOLSTICE
* * * WE ACCEPT MEDICAID * * *
IMPORTANT FORMS
Please review the forms needed for your first visit. You can view, download, and print them and have them completed in advance to make your appointment go faster..
TESTIMONIALS
“My daughter’s favorite doctor!! Believe it or not she is the one to remind us that it is time for a visit to KIDS HEALTHY SMILES, I don’t know what make us more happy, that she is almost six years old and cavity-free or that she is soooo happy to visit her favorite dentist: Dr Luisa Tchou, an excellent professional and highly dedicated to her vocation to serve others!! Thank you!! God bless you Doctor and definitely a five-star dental care place for our most precious treasure, our kids!!! “
– Fernando G.
“”I wish I was a child again!! Love the environment, the people at Kids Healthy Smiles and especially Dr Tchou. She is so dedicated and patient with the little ones (big ones too)My daughter is 22 now with perfect teeth thanks to Dr Tchou.”
– Victoria Z.
“The work they did on my teeth was wonderful. Everyone was very personable. They were always eager to set up appointments that fit my schedule. Dr. Granada and her staff always made me feel like I was their most important patient.”
– Jose H.
“My son and I have been extremely pleased with the service that we have received from Kids Healthy Smiles. Dr. Granada does an outstanding job explaining the treatment protocols and what we should expect going forward with the treatment. She genuinely cares about her patients. My son’s teeth and smile look beautiful thanks to Dr. Granada and Kids Healthy Smiles!“
– Adriana N.
“I had my braces done with Dr.Granada and I had a really good experience, my bite used to be off on one side and my teeth were crowded in the front. After a year and a half my teeth are perfectly straight and my bite is perfect .I’m so happy with the job she did on me and i thank her for the beautiful smile I have now.”
– Ellianis C.
CONTACT KIDS HEALTHY SMILES
KIDS HEALTHY SMILES
2722 NE 1st Street, Suite 1 - Pompano Beach, Florida 33062
PHONE: 954-590-8454 - FAX: 754-220-6162
e: info@kidshealthysmiles.com
KIDS HEALTHY SMILES
Or complete the form below and we will respond to your inquiry promptly.
Fields marked with an asterisk * are required.
c 2017 - KIDS HEALTHY SMILES - web site by goldcoastwebdesign.com
PRIVACY POLICY
Your privacy is vital to our long-term relationship with you, and protecting your privacy is just one part of our mission to provide you with highly personalized and valuable service. In addition, in an effort to comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), we will not knowingly collect personally identifying information from children under the age of 13.
This statement describes our Standard Privacy Policy What Information is Collected; How Information is Collected; and by Whom is Information Collected Required Personally Identifiable Information To submit the forms on our Web site, you must enter your name and e-mail address etc. This required personally identifiable information is necessary for us to process transactions for you and contact you. General Information We collect general information about you when you visit our web site.
This information includes technical information related to your computer and the manner in which you are accessing our site and includes such information as the internet protocol (IP) address of your computer, what operating system your computer is using, what browser software (e.g., Explorer, Netscape or other) your computer is using, and who your Internet service provider is, the Uniform Resource Locator ("URL") of the web site from which you just came and the URL to which you go next and certain operating metrics, such as the amount of time you use our Web site. The general information that we gather about you may be aggregated with general information of all users to help us better understand how our site is used.
In addition, we aggregate the general information and the personal information. We compile and analyze this aggregated information so that we can provide more meaningful information to corporate partners and more relevant content and advertisements to you.
The Sharing of Collected Information Personally Identifiable Information
We will not share your personally identifying information with other third parties without your consent, except for the following limited purposes: We are compelled to do so by law or by an order of a court or governmental authority. In order to cooperate with law enforcement authorities or governmental regulatory bodies. As we deem necessary to protect our rights, safety or property, our users or others to enforce our terms of use agreement or Standard Privacy Policy.
Aggregated General Information
In addition, we may share aggregated general information about our site with our partners or the general public. For example, we may share information regarding the daily number of unique users to our site with potential partners or others. Aggregated data does not contain any information that could be used to contact or identify you. Third Party Sites We may publish links to other sites from our web site. Please note that we do not control the content, practices or policies of any other site, including what information those sites collect about you. Accordingly, we do not endorse or hold ourselves responsible for the privacy policies or information gathering practices of any site that you may link to from our site. In addition, you may choose to respond to advertisements that are posted on our web site or made available via our service or to direct marketing offers from third party sponsors or advertisers.
We do not control the content, practices or policies of our sponsors or advertisers and, accordingly, do not endorse or hold ourselves responsible for the privacy policies or information gathering practices of any sponsor or advertiser who may collect information about you.
Amendments to Our Standard Privacy Policy
We may, from time to time, amend our Standard Privacy Policy. If we do, then we will post such amendments to this document so that you may always have access to our most recent policy. We reserve the right, at our discretion, to change, modify, add or remove portions of our Standard Privacy Policy at any time and from time to time. If at any point we decide to disclose personal information in a manner different from that stated at the time it was collected, we will notify users by email. You will be given the choice at that time to "opt-out" of any disclosures of your personal information that you made available to us prior to the change in our policy.
Acknowledgment and Acceptance of our Standard Privacy Policy
When you use our site, you affirmatively agree to all terms of this Standard Privacy Policy. Your continued use of this Web site constitutes your continued agreement to the terms of the Terms, including this Standard Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the terms of our Standard Privacy Policy, you should cease using our Web site.