Our office, as well as the
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Dental
Association (ADA), and the American Academy of Pediatric
Dentistry (AAPD) 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.
The Dental
Home is intended to provide a place other than the
Emergency Room for parents.
You can make the first
visit to the dentist enjoyable and positive. If old enough,
your child should be informed of the visit and told 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". The office makes a practice of using words that convey
the same message, but are pleasant and non-frightening to the
child.
We invite you to stay with
your child during the initial examination. During future
appointments, we suggest you allow your child to accompany our
staff through the dental experience. We can usually establish
a closer rapport with your child when you are not present. Our
purpose is to gain your child's confidence and overcome
apprehension. However, if you choose, you are more than
welcome to accompany your child to the treatment room. For the
safety and privacy of all patients, other children who are not
being treated should remain in the reception room with a
supervising adult.
