COLUMBUS, Neb. – In a significant step forward for children's healthcare in the region, Columbus pediatric dentistry is launching a dedicated pediatric dentistry practice. This marks the first specialized service of its kind in the area, aimed at enhancing the oral health and well-being of young patients.

News Channel Nebraska recently spoke with Dr. Kaitlynn Harvey, a Doctor of Dental Surgery and specialist in pediatric dentistry, to explore the importance of this new practice for Columbus and what families can anticipate.

Dr. Harvey, a North Platte native, recognized a critical gap in specialized dental care for children in Columbus and surrounding rural communities. "The closest pediatric dentist is about a 60-mile radius from Columbus," Dr. Harvey noted. "Growing up in North Platte, I remember the long trips to Kearney for specialized care. I understood the importance of bringing that specialized pediatric dental care closer to home, so I teamed up with Columbus Community Hospital to launch my own practice and fill that gap."

Dr. Harvey's expertise goes beyond routine dental work. With 11 years of specialized training, she and her team are equipped to care for anxious children and those with disabilities, including autism, Down syndrome, and seizure disorders, as well as children with various medical complexities that may present challenges for general dentists.

The new pediatric dentistry practice also offers hospital privileges, enabling them to treat children with extensive cavities under general anesthesia. "This allows us to address all dental needs in a single visit, eliminating the need for multiple appointments," Dr. Harvey explained.

To ease children's anxiety, Dr. Harvey and her team use kid-friendly language, replacing potentially frightening terms with gentler alternatives. "We use terms like 'sleepy juice' and 'putting the sugar bug to sleep' instead of 'shots' or other scary dental terms that parents might remember from their own childhoods," she said.

The mission of the pediatric dentistry practice is to preserve teeth and support the healthy growth and development of children. This includes promoting proper eating and speaking habits, preventing pain and infection, and safeguarding overall health.

Dr. Harvey's passion for her work stems from her own positive experiences with her childhood dentist. "He was a huge role model for me, and I want to have that same impact on kids, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds," she said. "My favorite saying is 'be who you needed when you were younger.'"

The pediatric dentistry practice is currently accepting new patients ages 12 and under, with services extending up to age 18 for children with special healthcare needs.

To schedule an appointment, parents can register their child online at https://cbuspediatricdentistry.com/