Your Child's First Visit

Your child's first visit to Dentistry for Children is important for several reasons. It may be the first time they’ve ever seen a dentist. Or perhaps they’ve had an unpleasant experience elsewhere. In any case, you can take comfort in knowing that our team will treat them with the utmost care.

Emergency problems will be dealt with first; if your child is in pain, we will do our best to alleviate or eliminate their discomfort. If there are no problems that require immediate attention, we will closely examine your child’s mouth (including their lips, cheeks, tongue, floor of the mouth, tonsil area, hard and soft palate), check the growth and development of the head and inspect their teeth and gums. Your child will receive a thorough cleaning and topical fluoride treatment; we will also take x-rays if needed. We will evaluate any habits they may have such as sucking their thumb or biting their lip that may hinder or harm the development of their teeth. After we have completed our initial examination, we will sit down with you to go over the results and make any recommendations. We try to make your child’s first visit with us as easy and enjoyable as possible in order to dispel any fears they may have and leave them looking forward to their next visit.

What to Tell Your Child Before Their First Visit

Explain to your child that the dentist is a friend who wants to help their smile: “The dentist will count your teeth and clean them with a special, tickling toothbrush before taking some pictures of your mouth.” Don’t tell your child that their visit to the dentist won’t hurt since this thought may have never occurred to them. Instead, tell them that the dentist will be very gentle and will take good care of them.

Your Child Needs Fluoride

The American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists both recommend that children receive preventative cleanings and fluoride treatments every six months. Our doctors support these guidelines and recommend this treatment for your child.

Your Child Needs X-Rays

In order for us to give your child the best possible care, we need to use all of the diagnostic aids at our disposal, including x-rays. Without x-rays, even the most careful examination could miss as much as 60% of dental decay. Some teeth may even be abscessed without any evidence of pain or swelling. Only an x-ray can give us a complete picture of your child’s dental health. To ensure our patients’ safety, we use minimum radiation dosage, protective lead aprons and the most modern equipment available.

Sedation

Most children feel at ease when visiting Dentistry for Children. Our colorfully decorated offices are designed to foster a comforting atmosphere where kids feel relaxed and contented. Our pediatric dentists not only know how to treat children, they know how to talk to them. They genuinely like kids and enjoy being around them. With an encouraging word or a reassuring smile, our dentists make children feel safe and special.

Sometimes, however, a child may feel anxious during treatment and may need more than a gentle, caring manner to feel comfortable. Nitrous oxide/oxygen is a safe, effective technique that can ease their fears. They will be fully conscious – and completely relaxed.

Our office offers several conscious sedation alternatives. During your child’s first visit, we will explore sedation options based on their age, level of anxiety, amount of dental work needed and length of the appointment.