At Smiles 4 Kids, we have designed our office with bright colors and friendly faces in our halls to
help make your child feel comfortable. No tense, frightening memories are associated with our
office. Your children are relaxed and happy during their time with us.
Dr. Burtenshaw is an Idaho native; he grew up in the Idaho Falls area where he graduated from Bonneville High School. He received an Associate Degree at Brigham Young University, and then received his Bachelor’s degree from Idaho State University in Pocatello, ID. He went on to receive his Doctorate in Dental Medicine in 2003, from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. And continued on to Nova Southeastern University where he received his specialty training in Pediatric dentistry, and completed his residency at both the Miami Children’s Hospital and Joe DiMaggio’s Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Olav Sorensen is a native of Idaho having been born and raised in the Pocatello area. He graduated from Highland High School and received his bachelor’s degree from Idaho State University. He went on to receive his Doctorate in Dental Medicine from Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Arizona in Glendale, Arizona. Dr. Sorensen continued his dental education through the United State Air Force and completed a residency in advanced dentistry at the Ehrling Bergquist clinic at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebraska. His advanced cross training gave him experience and knowledge in several dental disciplines including pediatric dentistry.
During his years in the Air Force, Dr. Sorensen was privileged to serve and treat members from all branches of the military including military members from other countries during joint training exercises. He was also able to be involved in humanitarian short tours in Central America bringing additional dental treatment and education to children and adults of third world populations while working with local area health providers.
Upon his departure from the Air Force, Dr. Sorensen and his family were excited to come back to Idaho. Dr. Sorensen’s favorite times are spent with his incredible wife Nichelle, and their five children in the great Idaho outdoors. Together, they enjoy backpacking, hiking, camping, fishing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and the like.
After having worked in larger population areas such as Phoenix, Omaha and Boise, Dr. Sorensen is ecstatic to be working in a smaller clinical setting with a comfortable small town feel in Blackfoot. Dr. Sorensen loves working in the area, treating his patients, talking with their parents, answering their questions and offering education.
A pediatric dentist has gone through a special set of courses to cater to children with special needs or who otherwise need gentle care. Following dental school, this training lasts around two to three years after graduation.
The reason why you may consider a fluoride treatment is because if you’re losing fluoride quicker than you are taking it in, you’re likely going to be at risk for tooth decay. Fluoride works to help prevent tooth decay by defending against acid attacks caused by sugars and plaque bacteria in your mouth. Fluoride can also reverse tooth decay.
Digital X-rays offer countless improvements over the results of traditional X-rays. After the sensor has taken an image of your teeth, it is instantly projected onto the office screen where your dentist can view it.
Our children are bold and adventurous and as their parent, you’re bound to end up with an emergency at some point, whether it’s a sprained arm or a bumped head. But, when a dental emergency occurs, it can be tricky to know where to go first. How do you respond when a dental emergency occurs, and you don’t have an appointment at an office?
Your dentist will have professional tools and specialized knowledge, meaning they will look for things you may not know about or be able to see without a good light and tools in hand. A dentist will be able to check for early signs of decay, and the hygienist will also give a deeper cleaning than at-home brushing allows for.
The work of a professional dentist and their tools simply don’t compare to brushing at home. While brushing and flossing at home are vital for your child’s overall health, your dentist will use this opportunity to look through your child’s mouth more closely and scrape tartar and buildup that brushing alone can’t remove.
Dental sealants are used to protect the chewing surface of teeth from decay. They are used on the surface of the permanent back teeth, the premolars and molars, to help protect these teeth from decay that will occur from chewing and eating food regularly.
If your child plays sports, they should always wear a mouth guard to help protect their teeth. However, it can’t prevent all injuries from happening. Oftentimes, our children don’t realize their limitations and they may get themselves into trouble with their dental health.
If your child plays any kind of sport where a mouthguard is recommended or required, it’s suggested that you talk with a dentist about getting a mouthguard custom formed to their teeth. With advanced tools and technology to fit a mouthguard to their teeth, your dentist will be able to make one that is comfortable, form-fitting, and stays in place.