By putting your child in the proper frame of mind, you can make the first visit enjoyable and positive. Tell 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.
Expect your child to react well and enjoy the visit and chances are he or she will do exactly that.
Since problems can be prevented if detected early, we recommend, as does the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, that your child comes in for the first dental examination by 12 months of age or as soon as the first tooth erupts.
At the initial visit, we will review the health history form with you, introduce your child to our dental team and allow time to see the office and become comfortable before the examination.
We invite you to stay with your child during the initial examination. During future appointments, we suggest you remain in the reception room because we can establish a close rapport more quickly 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 may come with 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.
The doctor will examine hard and soft tissues of the mouth and perform a head and neck exam, as well as a teeth cleaning. Depending on need, diagnostic X-rays may be taken to determine your child's present dental condition.
Following the exam, we will discuss her findings and recommendations and you will be given an estimate of the cost of any treatment. Additional services will be scheduled for a later visit.
We want to make your child's first smile their best!
For your convenience when visiting our office, please print the New Patient Health History Form, complete the information and bring it with you to your first visit.
To print the form you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat, please click here to download it for free to your computer.
Click here to print the New Patient Health History Form.