The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Dental Association, and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry all recommend establishing a “dental home” for your child by one year of age. Children who have a dental home are more likely to receive appropriate preventive and routine oral health care.
Prior to the appointment, tell your child that the dentist is a friendly doctor who will help keep his/her teeth healthy. Talk about the visit in a positive, age-appropriate way, as you would about any new experience. Please be careful to avoid projecting any negative feelings you may have regarding dental visits. A visit to our office can be a very pleasant adventure for both you and your child!
The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Dental Association, and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry all recommend establishing a “dental home” for your child by one year of age. Children who have a dental home are more likely to receive appropriate preventive and routine oral health care.
Prior to the appointment, tell your child that the dentist is a friendly doctor who will help keep his/her teeth healthy. Talk about the visit in a positive, age-appropriate way, as you would about any new experience. Please be careful to avoid projecting any negative feelings you may have regarding dental visits. A visit to our office can be a very pleasant adventure for both you and your child!
At the first visit, your child will be introduced to our dental team and shown all the instruments the doctor will use (like our tiny mouth mirror and tooth wand). You and your child will also learn the importance of preventive home care skills to help your child’s teeth stay healthy and strong.
The doctor will then gently examine your child’s teeth, gums and remainder of the mouth. If your child is younger, we may have them sit in a parent’s lap facing the parent and have them lay back towards the dentist. We call this a “lap exam” which can help the dentist do a thorough exam quickly.
At Hero Way Pediatric Dentistry, we recognize that all children are unique and have individual sensitivities. If your child is very apprehensive, we may skip certain aspects of an appointment. We want our patients to leave our office with a smile on their face. Pleasant visits and encouraging words from our team (as well as from caregivers) help a child establish trust and confidence that will last a
lifetime.
Depending on the age and comfort level of your child, a thorough cleaning of the teeth and fluoride treatment may be completed. X-rays will only be taken only if necessary and usually beginning around age 3. The x-rays help us to detect tooth decay between teeth and also assess development of the permanent teeth. A developmental check is always completed and referrals are made to a local orthodontist when necessary. If additional treatment needs, such as fillings, are diagnosed, additional appointments will be scheduled.
At Hero Way Pediatric Dentistry, we recognize that all children are unique and have individual sensitivities. If your child is very apprehensive, we may skip certain aspects of an appointment. We want our patients to leave our office with a smile on their face. Pleasant visits and encouraging words from our team (as well as from caregivers) help a child establish trust and confidence that will last a lifetime.
Depending on the age and comfort level of your child, a thorough cleaning of the teeth and fluoride treatment may be completed. X-rays will be taken only if necessary and usually beginning around age 3. The x-rays help us to detect tooth decay between teeth and also assess development of the permanent teeth. A developmental check is always completed and referrals are made to a local orthodontist when necessary. If additional treatment needs, such as fillings, are diagnosed, additional appointments will be scheduled.
