First Visit

Our office, as well as the The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Dental Association, and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry all recommend establishing a Dental Home for your child by their first birthday. Children with a dental home are more likely to receive proper preventive care, and routine oral health treatment.

You can make the first visit to the dentist enjoyable and positive. Inform your child of the visit and tell them 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". We make a practice of using words that convey the same message without frightening children.

The Dental Home is intended to provide a place for dental care other than the Emergency Room.

Do I stay with my child during the visit?

This is always a tough question and answer. We find that many children interact with the dental staff differently when parents are not nearby. Our goal is to make every child feel as comfortable as possible in our office. If you feel that your child needs your assistance and wish to stay with him or her, please let us know and we will happy to accommodate your request. First visits (especially for children under 4 years old) we routinely recommend you accompany your child. After that initial visit, we treat every child on an individual basis regarding these practices. Our goal is to have a comfortable child and parent. Separation anxiety is not uncommon in children, so please try not to be concerned if your child exhibits some negative behavior. This is normal and will soon diminish. We are all specifically trained in helping young children overcome anxiety. Our experience has shown that most children over the age of 3 react more positively when permitted to experience the dental visit on their own and in an environment designed for children.