First Visit
Our office, as well as the The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Dental Association (ADA), and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) all recommend establishing a “Dental Home” for your child by one year of age. Children who have a dental home are more likely to receive appropriate preventive and routine oral health care.
What to Expect
You can make the first visit to the dentist enjoyable and positive. If old enough, your child should be informed of the visit and told that the dentist and their staff will explain all procedures and answer any questions. The less to-do concerning the visit, the better.
It is best if you refrain from using words around your child that might cause unnecessary fear, such as “needle”,”shot”, “pull”, “drill” or “hurt”. The office makes a practice of using words that convey the same message, but are pleasant and non-frightening to the child.
We invite you to stay with your child during the initial examination. During future appointments, we suggest you allow your child to accompany our staff through the dental experience. We can usually establish a closer rapport with your child when you are not present. Our purpose is to gain your child’s confidence and overcome apprehension. However, if you choose, you are more than welcome to accompany your child to the treatment room. For the safety and privacy of all patients, other children who are not being treated should remain in the reception room with a supervising adult.
Siblings, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Friends and MORE!
We love to meet all of your family and friends. It is so much fun to meet your special people! However, during your dental visit your child is the ‘Star’ and we want to give him or her our undivided attention. We like to talk and visit and are afraid your child will not get as much attention as he/she deserves. Therefore, we ask that one or two parents stay with your child during the intial visit. During treatment visits, we ask that only one adult stay with your child. Siblings and other children must remain in the reception area with a supervising adult.