decorahnews.com feature: One of the challenges of being a "Pediatric Dentist?" Getting young children to sit still!

Dr. Annalee Fencl with a tool of her trade.

(Story by decorahnews.com's Bob Modersohn):

Annalee Reicks grew up the youngest of five on a farm near Lawler, rode to the dentist here in Decorah as a kid, eventually got her college schooling (10 years of it) at the University of Iowa and knew of a need for kid-specific dental care in this town. Simple story. Now Dr. Annalee Fencl is opening her own Northeast Iowa Pediatric Dentistry office from scratch at 806 Commerce Drive, Suite B, in Decorah.

The biggest challenge for pediatric dentists is getting the little tykes to sit still for dental procedures, Dr. Fencl says — especially youngsters with "difficult behavior."  But the challenge in getting a three or four-year-old to remain still is a doable task "if you explain what is happening to the child — and be patient," she says.  Eighteen will be the upper age limit of many of her patients, in addition to those who will have grown into adulthood who have special needs.

Will any of her youngest dental patients have NO teeth? She figures so, she'll have some "brand new newborns," she says. It's important to get those babies into the dental office for dental information by age one.

For starters, Dr. Fencl will have an office manager and two dental assistants working with her. It will be their new "dental home," she said. Opening date is August 10. To make an appointment, call 563-382-6259, or go online to www.neiapd.com, or email info@neiapd.com.