We are also here for you, the parents. We know how important (and difficult) it can be to take care of your childrens teeth at home. Part of our goal is to help you feel knowledgeable and comfortable in the day to day care of your childs teeth. And should your child need dental work, we want you to rest easy knowing that they are in the hands of your trusted partner in oral health.
Dr. Carson Cruise is a native of Natchez, Mississippi. He received his undergraduate degree from Mississippi State University and his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) School of Dentistry in Jackson. Dr. Cruise served on the Student Ethics Council for all four years of dental school and served as president of the council in his final year. After completing dental school, Dr. Cruise furthered his education by completing an Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residency at UMMC, where he received additional training in working with patients with special health care needs, management of dento-facial trauma, and performing hospital dentistry.
In addition to his initial education and training, Dr. Cruise is proud to demonstrate his ongoing commitment to lifelong learning in pediatric dentistry by being Board Certified. As a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Cruise voluntarily completed extensive training and testing, and completed an oral examination to demonstrate his advanced knowledge and skills in the care of pediatric patients.
When hes not making his patients smile and doling out crisp high fives at the office, Dr. Cruise and his wife, Laura, enjoy living the country life with their son, Kellen, and their poodle, Thumper. They have several American Quarter horses, raise registered American Brahman cattle, tend honey bees, and run a small commercial beef herd. They love being a part of the Shoals community and hope to see you soon.
Dr. Cruise and the entire staff understand the importance of good oral health for children. As a board certified pediatric dentist, Dr. Cruise has specialized training in prevention, growth and development, dental trauma, interceptive orthodontics, and treatment of the pediatric dentition. We want to help protect and restore your childrens teeth so that they can speak and eat easily and have a wonderful smile.
We also understand the importance of homecare for healthy smiles. We will work with parents to ensure that their children are establishing tooth friendly habits that will ensure happy, healthy smiles for life. After all, its just as true now as when Benjamin Franklin first said it: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
By becoming your childs dental home, we aim to help you stop cavities before they get a start. To help with this, we recommend routine dental examinations and cleanings as well as fluoride applications when needed.
A frenectomy is the removal of the frenum, which is a thin piece of tissue in the mouth that can cause complications in babies and children. If your child has trouble eating, speaking, or breastfeeding, a frenectomy may help resolve the issue.
Used around the globe for decades, Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) is a minimally invasive medicament that helps stop the progression of cavities. SDF can be particularly helpful for younger patients who are unable to cooperate for more involved restorative care such as crowns or fillings. Ask Dr. Cruise if SDF is right for your child.
Even though we wish that they wouldnt, emergencies do happen. Fortunately, Dr. Cruise has advanced training and experience in managing dental emergencies and is available for after hours call for patients of record.