PEDIATRIC DENTIST

The American Academy of   Pediatric Dentistry recommends a child visit the dentist for an initial oral evaluation within 6 months of the eruption of his/her first baby tooth and no later than their first birthday! Why the rush? With caries remaining one of the most prevalent diseases of childhood, pediatric dentists are not just focusing on treating existing cavities, but are emphasizing the importance of preventing the development of oral disease in children. Through family education on oral health and early identification of risk factors for developing oral disease, the benefits of establishing a healthy attitude towards oral hygiene will last your child a lifetime. Introducing children early on to regular dental visits will allow them to develop a long term relationship with their dentist, making them feel comfortable and at ease in the dental chair- rather than anxious and fearful- when it comes to treatment.

In order for us to focus on your child during his/her visit, please complete a PATIENT HISTORY FORM for your child and bring it with you on your first visit. If you feel your child may need special care due to a previous experience or certain physical or mental conditions, please advise us ahead of the appointment. 

During your child’s first visit, we will perform a complete oral examination and provide age-appropriate education in oral health care. When necessary, a dental cleaning and x-rays will also be done. After reviewing our findings and recommendations with you, we will review your child’s individual comprehensive treatment plan in detail. Please try not to “over-prepare” your child for the upcoming visit. OFTEN, A CHILD’S BEHAVIOR IS RELATED TO THEIR PARENT’S OWN ANXIETY. While reading books about going to the dentist or “playing dentist” at home beforehand can be beneficial, keeping a RELAXED AND POSITIVE attitude helps the most. 

While it is true that baby teeth are eventually replaced by adult teeth, most children do not lose their last baby tooth until between the ages of 12-13 years old. Meanwhile, a small cavity that was once treatable with a simple filling can lead to a large, painful abscess. An untreated cavity can infect adjacent teeth, cause damage to the developing permanent tooth underneath, contribute to the development of malocclusion, and even cause life-threatening infections that can spread beyond the oral cavity!During your child’s first visit, we will perform a complete oral examination and provide age-appropriate education in oral health care. When necessary, a dental cleaning and x-rays will also be done. After reviewing our findings and recommendations with you, we will review your child’s individual comprehensive treatment plan in detail. Please try not to “over-prepare” your child for the upcoming visit. OFTEN, A CHILD’S BEHAVIOR IS RELATED TO THEIR PARENT’S OWN ANXIETY. While reading books about going to the dentist or “playing dentist” at home beforehand can be beneficial, keeping a RELAXED AND POSITIVE attitude helps the most. 

Appointments are made to reserve a specific amount of time in our schedule to provide your child with the quality care and attention he or she needs. We respect your time and make every effort to remain on schedule. Likewise, we appreciate those who arrive on time for their appointments. If an appointment must be changed, we appreciate 24-hour notice so that another patient may be scheduled. Broken appointments without sufficient notice to the office may result in our inability to schedule your child for future appointments and will result in a $50-$100 charge to your account, depending on the nature of the appointment. In situations where urgent treatment is needed because of a fractured or abscessed tooth, swelling, or other acute need, we are available for emergency appointments. During non-office hours, we can be reached through our emergency number.

Payment of dental services are expected and required at the time of service. This will include insurance deductibles, co-payments, or fees not covered by an insurance carrier. For your convenience, we accept cash, checks, and most major credit cards. If you have dental insurance, we will gladly submit your claim for you.

In order for us to best process your dental insurance claim, please have your insurance card or group number and social security number available. We ask that you read your policy to be sure you are fully aware of any limitations of the benefits provided. Your policy may base its allowances on a fixed fee schedule that may or may not coincide with our usual fees. Definite financial arrangements must be made for any balance above the estimated insurance coverage before treatment is rendered.