A children's dental clinic founded by Sarah Mack
The journey to optimal dental health begins at an early age, yet for many children the thought of visiting the dentist evokes feelings of unease and fear.
Recognising this challenge, Elmsleigh House Dental Clinic has launched Little Smiles, a dedicated children's dental clinic that embraces not only advanced dental care but also a compassionate approach to helping children and young people access dental treatment.
Understanding that dental anxiety can stem from various sources, our approach at Little Smiles focuses on personalised care. We believe that every child is unique and deserves a tailored approach that addresses their specific fears and dental needs. From the moment a child steps into our clinic, they are met with warmth, understanding and a gentle approach to delivering preventive dental care and treatment, with an aim to create a positive dental experience.
Our dentist at Little Smiles is Sarah Mack, an experienced general and cosmetic dentist at Elmsleigh House Dental Clinic and a passionate advocate for children’s oral health.
With a deep understanding of child psychology and years of experience working with anxious young patients, Sarah approaches each child’s dental care journey with patience, empathy and a commitment to building trust. Additionally, Sarah has training and experience in administering inhalation sedation (commonly known as 'gas and air' or 'happy gas') to help children access the dental care they need.
We have designated clinic days on a Saturday to ensure school and work pressures do not disrupt our time together. Every visit to Little Smiles is not just for treatment, but a step towards children adopting a more positive attitude towards their dental visits and taking ownership of their dental health for the future.
We welcome referrals from other dentists if they would like your child to be seen at Little Smiles.
We are delighted to share this 5* Google review (Jan 24):
“I recommend Sarah Mack who is an outstanding dentist with a great understanding of children. She quickly gained my child’s trust, talking about hobbies and calmly explaining procedures. She got him over his anxiety, from not wanting to open his mouth for previous dentists to now happily attending and having treatment. And her work is fast and superb quality” Mrs R.
If you have an anxious child or a child requiring treatment such as fillings or teeth extractions who need a little more help under inhalation sedation, you can book them in to see Sarah Mack at Little Smiles or ask your dentist to refer them to us for specific treatment.
Sarah Mack is a Dental Phobia Certified dentist Click Here to verify.
Sarah will first see children and their parents/guardian for a consultation at Little Smiles at Elmsleigh House Dental Clinic. This enables children to be familiar with the surroundings, to meet Sarah, and for Sarah to discuss treatment plans, procedures and potential sedation with you and your child. Where possible, she will use props to show children what she plans to do in a language they will understand, and will ensure children and their parents/guardian are well informed, alleviating concerns and building a sense of trust.
If a dentist has referred your child to Little Smiles, we will keep them informed of all treatment and will return your child to their routine care afterwards.
Little Smiles recognises the importance of post-treatment care and support. Children will be reassured and their parents/guardian provided with comprehensive guidance on how to manage any discomfort after a procedure. Little children will be given our Elmsleigh lion as a symbol of their bravery!
Beyond treatment, our holistic approach at Little Smiles extends to empowering children (and their parents/guardian) with the knowledge and tools they need for excellent oral health. Sarah and the dental hygiene team are dedicated to educating children on key oral hygiene practices in a fun and interactive manner. We believe that by instilling good habits early on, we lay the foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles.
Little Smiles at Elmsleigh House represents more than just a new clinic; it symbolises our commitment to transforming dental experiences for nervous children. By offering dedicated paediatric dental care, tailored communication and a nurturing environment with sedation if needed, Little Smiles addresses the needs of nervous children requiring dental treatment. Little Smiles also offers support and reassurance to parents/guardians of children needing a little more nurturing to access dental treatment. You can also ask your child's dentist to refer them to Little Smiles at Elmsleigh House, as we are a trusted referral clinic and considered an extension of their services.
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INHALATION SEDATION AT LITTLE SMILES |
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Inhalation sedation is often called 'gas and air' or 'happy gas', and is the mildest form of sedation. It is a blend of nitrous oxide and oxygen that is administered via a mask placed over your child's nose. When your child is comfortable in the chair, Sarah will place a small, sterilized nasal hood over their nose and they will be told to gently breathe through their nose; during the first few minutes, only pure oxygen will be given. Sarah will then slowly increase the percentage of nitrous oxide until your child reaches a very comfortable, relaxed, 'floaty' state of sedation. Once happy and relaxed, Sarah will then begin dental treatment. Sometimes for children there is no need to give additional local anaesthesia via injections. |
At the end of treatment your child will breathe pure oxygen for three to five minutes; this will remove all traces of nitrous oxide from their body. Sarah will assess when you can take your child home as they may need some moments to fully recover. She will give you any follow-up information needed. Inhalation sedation is an extremely safe and effective sedation that makes children feel totally relaxed throughout treatment. Sarah Mack has training and experience in administering inhalation sedation to children, and the dental nurses supporting her have also undertaken additional sedation training. Your child will be in the safest of hands while receiving optimum dental care. |
To book your child into our Little Smiles children's dental clinic, contact our Welcome Team on 01252 713797 or email info@elmsleighhouse.co.uk. You can also contact us via our online form.
Alternatively, if you have any questions you can speak to our Patient Coordinator, Georgie Price, on 01252 595503 or email georgie@elmsleighhouse.co.uk.
Calls are recorded for monitoring and training purposes.
