What to expect?
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends a child’s first dental visit within 6 months of the first tooth erupting or by their First birthday. Our office accepts new patients under the age of 13 and regardless of age, every child will be welcomed with the same warmth and patience. We retain patients till they graduate high school and occasionally until the age of 20, depending on their dental needs. Since all our new patients are minors, at the first visit we require a biological parent or a court appointed guardian to be present. Before any treatment can begin we will require the accompanying adult to provide custody paperwork specifically granting them the right to make medical decisions on behalf of the child. This is essential for the first visit where important medical and dental information is obtained and patient’s dental needs are thoroughly assessed.
After patient’s first visit, the parent/guardian can fill out a form giving permission to other trusted adults, who could bring patient for all future dental appointments. Without this written consent form clearly stating the name of the accompanying adult, as per the law we cannot treat any patients under the age of 18. If the patient has not been seen at the office for longer than a year, a new updated health history will need to be completed for which we will once again need the biological parent or court appointed guardian.
We encourage you to print and review all patient forms to hasten your check in process at the first visit. Please provide our front desk all dental insurances (primary and secondary) the patient is eligible for at the time of making an appointment. this will allow staff to check your insurance eligibility/coverage to the best of our ability assess your out of pocket costs. Additionally, we recommend you contact your insurance carrier directly to clarify the covered services, since payments for procedures are due before the appointment can begin.
We request you review all patient forms in the drop down menu to make your appointment as smooth as possible. Please bring all necessary documents such as prescription names, primary doctor’s contact information, and insurance cards for your first visit.
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Patient experience
Our office aims to create a welcoming environment where each child is introduced to dentistry based on their individual level of comfort and comprehension. Our staff is experienced in judging which approach the patient would respond to best, and then applying positive reinforcement to complete the appointment successfully. We request parents to not use any scary words like “hurt”, “pain”, “shot” or share their own negative experiences at the dentist. Instead we encourage you to read books or watch videos that prepare your child for their first dental visit.
All new patients will have an exam completed by the dentist and based on their age and cooperation will proceed to cleaning, X-rays (radiographs) and fluoride if applicable. The hygienist will review the best home care routine for your child, followed by the dentist discussing any relevant findings and treatment needs.