The First Visit Welcome to our pediatric dental office
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association and American Academy of Pediatrics all agree that children should begin to visit the pediatric dentist no later than their first birthday. Although this might seem young, it is extremely important that newly erupted primary teeth receive proper dental care from the very beginning.
Initial appointments are primarily used to help educate parents on proper cleaning methods, to discuss nutritional information, to create a plan in case of future dental trauma, and simply to begin familiarizing children with the dentist and dental office.
It’s been shown that non-threatening visits at an early age also help to build your child’s confidence, provide a foundation for hygiene awareness and begin to create a trusting relationship between your child and our dental team.
During your first visit
During your first visit to Dentistry for Children, you and your child will become familiar with our office, our staff and our methods. We will make a great effort to ensure that you and your child feel comfortable in this new environment. We encourage parents to accompany their children during the initial visit. This introduces parents to our treatment surroundings, allows Dr. Downey or Dr. Carolyn to discuss their initial dental findings, and provides parents with a general idea of our philosophies.
Depending upon your child’s response during this initial visit, Dr. Downey or Dr. Carolyn will provide recommendations for the following visits. If you are asked to accompany your child into the treatment area during subsequent visits, we suggest that you act as a “silent & supportive” observer only. It is very important for us to establish cooperation and trust directly with your child, as this will help your child begin to form a long lasting relationship with the doctors and our team, which should precipitate a positive outlook on dentistry.
Reviewing treatment options
Once Dr. Downey or Dr. Carolyn establish their findings, we will review the findings and recommendations with the accompanying parent or legal guardian. Our doctors encourage parents to take an active roll in deciding which treatment options are best for each individual child and will rely on your input. After treatment options have been thoroughly explored, you will receive a detailed treatment plan, which includes all recommended treatments, costs and insurance information. A treatment and financial coordinator will then carefully review this information in detail and will explain how your specific dental insurance benefits work. Lastly, all payment options will be explored, any final treatment questions will be answered, and a follow-up appointment will be scheduled.
