Dr. Niewald and team have treated more than 5,000 families in Jackson County — from first teeth to teenagers.
Most parents bring their kids in for cleanings and think of it as a maintenance task. That’s fine — but pediatric dentistry at its best is also early detection work. The way a child’s jaw develops, how their bite closes, whether their enamel is mineralizing correctly — these are things a trained eye picks up years before they become expensive problems.
Dr. Niewald completed his training at the UMKC School of Dentistry and has treated children across every age group at Lakewood Dental. He doesn’t use the word ‘painless’ loosely — he uses it because the techniques we use are specifically designed for anxious and young patients, and because most of our pediatric patients genuinely are fine.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a child’s first dental visit within six months of the first tooth appearing, or by age one — whichever comes first. Early visits aren’t about treatment. They’re about familiarity: letting your child get comfortable in the chair, understanding what we’re looking at, and giving parents a clear picture of what to watch for at home.
We see children from infancy through their teenage years. Many of our pediatric patients transition to Dr. Niewald’s adult care when they’re ready — which is exactly the kind of continuity that makes long-term dental health easier to maintain.
Every child’s visit begins with a thorough exam — not just a surface-level polish. We review X-rays (taken at appropriate intervals based on age and cavity risk, not on a fixed schedule), assess bite development, check for early signs of crowding, and screen for habits like thumb-sucking or mouth breathing that can affect jaw growth.
Cleanings use instruments sized for smaller mouths. We work at the child’s pace and explain everything we’re doing. Children who leave knowing what we did and why tend to be the ones who come back without dread.
Sealants are thin protective coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of permanent back teeth — the molars most vulnerable to decay because of their deep grooves. The application takes about 15 minutes per tooth and requires no drilling or anesthetic. Studies consistently show sealants reduce molar decay by up to 80% in the years immediately following application.
We recommend sealants for most children when their first permanent molars emerge, typically between ages 6 and 7, and again when second molars come in around age 12.
We apply professional fluoride varnish at cleanings for children at moderate to high cavity risk. This is a quick, in-office treatment that significantly strengthens enamel. We’ll discuss your child’s specific cavity risk at each visit — fluoride application frequency is not the same for every child.
When decay does develop, we use composite resin (tooth-colored) fillings for all restorations in our younger patients. These bond directly to the tooth structure, require less removal of healthy tooth material than traditional amalgam, and are indistinguishable from natural tooth color.
For baby teeth with significant decay where the tooth needs to be maintained until it naturally falls out, stainless steel crowns are the clinical standard. They’re durable, cost-effective, and appropriate for primary molars that need to hold space for permanent teeth. We discuss every crown case with parents before proceeding — there are no surprises on the treatment plan.
If a baby tooth is lost early — through decay or injury — surrounding teeth can drift into the gap, blocking the permanent tooth underneath. A space maintainer holds that space open until the permanent tooth is ready to erupt. It’s a simple appliance that prevents expensive orthodontic problems later.
For children who experience significant anxiety, or for longer procedures requiring stillness, we offer sedation options including nitrous oxide (laughing gas), oral sedation — confirm what Lakewood Dental actually provides. We discuss all sedation options in detail with parents before any sedation appointment, including what to expect, preparation instructions, and post-appointment care.
We conduct orthodontic screening as part of regular exams for children in the mixed dentition phase (when baby and permanent teeth are present simultaneously). If we see early bite problems, crowding, or jaw development concerns, we’ll refer to a trusted local orthodontist and help you understand what to expect and when.
Your child checks in. We bring them back — with you, if they want you there, or on their own if they’re comfortable. We start with a tour of the instruments we’ll use: what they look like, what sound they make, what they’re for. We don’t spring surprises.
The exam takes about 45 minutes for a comprehensive new patient visit, including cleaning and X-rays as appropriate. We wrap up by reviewing what we found with you directly, answering questions honestly, and giving you specific things to watch for at home before the next visit.
We slow down. We explain everything. We never hold a child in the chair or push through discomfort without acknowledgment. Most children who arrive anxious leave comfortable enough to schedule their next appointment without complaint — but we don’t promise that for every child. We’ll tell you honestly if we think a different level of sedation or a specialist referral is the right call.
X-ray frequency depends on your child’s individual cavity risk, not on a fixed annual schedule. Children at low risk may only need X-rays every 18–24 months. Children at higher risk — those with more frequent cavities or tighter tooth contacts — benefit from more frequent intervals. We make this call based on their specific situation, not a blanket protocol.
Digital X-rays, which we use exclusively, emit significantly less radiation than traditional film X-rays. When combined with lead aprons and thyroid collars, the exposure is minimal — lower than what your child receives on a short airplane flight. We take X-rays when the clinical benefit outweighs any theoretical risk, not as a routine revenue procedure.
Not necessarily. Baby teeth fall out on their own timeline, and most wiggling teeth don’t need intervention. Bring them in if the tooth is causing significant pain, if there’s swelling around it, or if the permanent tooth appears to be coming in behind the baby tooth before it has fallen out.