Your child's first visit

Before the first visit

Please discuss the positive aspects of dentistry with your child. Convey good feelings about dental visits as being part of growing up. Prepare your child in advance that someone is going to look at their teeth. To gain a child's confidence and trust, use child-friendly terms and simple explanations to describe dental instruments and procedures. Do not use any fear provoking words. Rather than, "the dentist will not hurt you"; say "the dentist will be very gentle”. Expect your child to react well and enjoy the first visit to our office and chances are he/she will do exactly that. By putting your child in the proper frame of mind, you can make the first visit enjoyable and positive.

The first visit

We recommend the first dental examination by 12 months of age. We will examine your child’s teeth, check for decay, make sure teeth are coming in the right order, screen all the oral tissues for diseases and determine proper jaw development. This early appointment is one of the best things you can do for your child. Many problems, which might otherwise develop, can be prevented by this early visit.

We recommend that both mom and dad come to their child’s first visit. We invite you to stay with your child during the initial examination. Please do not be upset if your child cries. Young children are often afraid of anything new and strange, and crying is the normal reaction to that fear. Following the dental examination, findings and recommendations will be discussed. We will evaluate your present home preventive care routine and exchange ideas that will be helpful to your child's dental health. There will be plenty of valuable information given about how to effectively clean baby’s teeth, nutrition and, and what to expect during teething. We will inform you when you should start using fluoridated toothpaste or if your child can benefit from other sources of fluoride. Since parents are often concerned about thumb and pacifier habits, we can offer some strategies on how to stop these habits and inform them about the problems that can arise with prolonged sucking behaviors.

We are looking forward to meeting your family. Your visit is an opportunity for all of us to become acquainted so we can develop a positive relationship of trust and confidence that will last a lifetime.

Future visits

During future appointments we suggest that you remain in the reception room while your child is in our care with our highly trained staff. Our purpose is to gain your child's confidence and overcome any apprehension. Depending on need, diagnostic x-rays may be taken to determine your child's present dental condition. If your child is over 3 years of age and had never had a dental cleaning, we recommend a dental cleaning during the first visit. This will help to introduce all different instruments and make his future visits more pleasant.

We sincerely trust that you and your child will find the first visit and all visits to our office comfortable and rewarding. We appreciate your referral of family and friends. New patients are always welcomed!