New Patients
What To Tell Your Child Before the First Visit
You can explain to the child that the dentist wants to be a friend and help care
for his or her teeth: "At the first visit the dentist will count your teeth, clean
them with a special, tickling toothbrush, and take some pictures of your mouth."
Never tell a child that the dentist will not hurt, as this may have never entered
the child's mind, but rather, that the dentist will be very gentle. Rest assured
your child is in good hands.
The First Visit
The child's first visit is important for several reasons. In many instances, it
is the child's first experience with dentistry; in some cases, the child has had
a previous unpleasant experience. Emergency problems will be dealt with first, and
if your child is in pain, we will do our best to alleviate it. If there are no emergency
problems, we will examine your child's mouth ( lips, cheeks, tongue, floor of the
mouth, tonsil area, hard and soft palate), check the growth and development of the
head, and check the teeth and gums. The child will receive a thorough cleaning and
topical fluoride treatment, and we will take such x-ray films as necessary. We will
evaluate any tongue, lip, cheek, or thumb habit that may influence the development
of attractive teeth. We will also examine your child to see how active his or her
organized bacteria are at producing dental disease. After this has been completed,
there will be a consultation during which we will present our findings and recommendations.
Because this first visit is easy and enjoyable, it helps to overcome many of the
fears that the child has acquired, and the child becomes acquainted with dentistry
in a pleasant manner.
Your Child Needs Fluoride
The tooth is made more resistant to decay by the use of fluoride. Fluoride is a
mineral like calcium or sodium. When used on a tooth makes the enamel more decay
resistant. The best way to do this is by fluoridating the drinking water.
Information on Insurance Coverage for Fluoride Treatments
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. Some insurance companies limit the number of fluoride treatments they
will consider for payment to one per calendar year instead of the recommended two.
If you would like to request that your child receive only one fluoride treatment
per year, please inform one of our staff members when you child arrives for their
cleaning visit. If you have a concern about how your insurance company pays for
fluoride treatment, we encourage you to contact a service representative at your
insurance company.
Your Child Needs X-Rays
We feel it is our obligation to give the child patient the very best in dental care.
To accomplish this goal we must have at our command all diagnostic aids, including
x-rays. Looking at the teeth alone without x-rays misses over 60% of dental decay.
A tooth may even be abscessed without evidence of pain or swelling. Only an x-ray
can show this to us. As far as safety, we utilize minimum radiation dosage, protective
lead aprons, and the most modern equipment available.
Treatment With Sedation
Many children are calm, comfortable and confident in a pediatric dental office.
Because pediatric dentists specialize in treating children, they make children feel
special. The office is especially designed for children. Our staff members choose
to work in a pediatric dental office because they enjoy kids.
Sometimes, however, a child feels anxious during treatment. Your child may need
more support than a gentle, caring manner to feel comfortable. Nitrous oxide/oxygen
is a safe, effective technique to calm a child's fear of the dental visit.
Our office offers several agents used in conscious sedation. During your new patient
visit, we will explore sedation options based on your child's age, level of anxiety,
amount of dental work, and length of the appointment.