Along with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, we recommend that a child’s first dental visit be scheduled by his/her 1st birthday. It is very important to make the first visit as positive and enjoyable for the child as possible. We want your child to enjoy getting to know our doctors and staff and be comfortable at all times. A pleasant, comfortable first visit builds trust and helps put the child at ease during future dental visits.
We have carefully designed our office to be a child-friendly, comfortable and fun environment. We complete our dental examination in an age-appropriate manner and work closely with children to gain their trust. We welcome your input on how you think your child will do best. With care and respect for your child’s own rhythm, we encourage the child to watch one of our stuffed animals have a “tooth check”. Then we give your child oral hygiene instructions and explain how we count teeth. We also explain how our dental “tools” are used.
When the child feels relaxed and ready, we proceed with the appointment. Children over three are usually very comfortable sitting in the dental chair alone. For toddlers and infants, we use a “knee-to-knee” technique with one parent’s help. In this position, your baby can see you while we complete the exam. Many babies accept this procedure happily, but even if there is a little fussing, the procedure only takes a few minutes.