Your First Visit

When to schedule your child’s first visit

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, your child should have their first dental appointment before their first birthday, or when their first tooth erupts (whichever comes first). Bringing your child to the dentist early and regularly will help establish a proper oral care routine that can last a lifetime. 

At Shawnee Pediatric Dentistry, we know how important it is to make a pawsitive impact with new patients, so you can rest assured that we'll go above and beyond to make your child’s appointment fun and informative.

What to Expect During Your First Visit

The Benefits of Routine Visits

A Parent’s Role

Navigating Dental Anxiety

Alternative Medicine

Dr. Sarah will gently assess your child’s dental health and check for any issues. From the time you walk through our door to our final goodbye, we make sure that your child’s first visit with us is upbeat, informative, and filled with positive memories. We strive to create a dental home where children are excited to come back every six months because we know this will set them up for a lifetime of excellent oral health.

We ask that you complete our First Visit forms prior to arriving for your child’s first visit, if possible. The first visit usually includes a review of the dental and medical history and a comprehensive exam. We'll also determine if a dental cleaning, fluoride varnish treatment, or any appropriate digital dental imaging is necessary. Any further treatment such as fillings will occur at a follow-up visit.

Dr. Sarah will discuss the importance of caring for and preventing dental disease through topics such as oral hygiene and proper nutrition and will discuss the growth of your child, dental development, and any associated oral habits. The parent or legal guardian must accompany the child to the first visit so they can detail accurate and appropriate medical and dental information.

Findings and recommendations will be discussed with you, including an estimate of the cost of diagnosed treatment. Services are then scheduled for a return appointment. It's our policy to make definitive financial arrangements before treatment begins.

Routine appointments will get your child comfortable with the process and ensure any dental health issues are caught in their earlier stages before they become problems. 

Quality pediatric care will also decrease the risk that your child will develop dental anxiety later in life and increase their chances of taking a proactive approach to healthcare throughout adulthood.

For future visits, we respectfully request parents remain in the reception room while we care for your child. Having your child enter the treatment area by themselves allows your child to establish an uninterrupted relationship with the doctor and staff. It also helps your child gain confidence and helps him/her to overcome any apprehension during dental treatment.

Separation anxiety is not uncommon in children, so please try not to be too concerned if your child exhibits negative behavior. This is normal and will soon diminish, especially when combined with our individually recommended sedation modality. Studies and experience have shown that most children react more positively when permitted to experience the dental visit on their own and in an environment suited and designed specifically for children. 

If you prefer to accompany your child back, we request that parents participate as observers only. This allows our team to effectively communicate with your child during their dental treatment without preventing confusion for the child.  It also helps ensure your child has a positive experience. For the safety of your child, parents are not allowed back during treatment under sedation or anesthesia.

It's best if you refrain from using words around your child that might cause unnecessary fear, such as "needle", "shot", "pull", "drill" or "hurt". Our office makes a practice of using words that convey the same message but are pleasant and non-frightening to the child. 

If your child is old enough, we'd love for you to discuss the positive aspects of dentistry with them prior to their visit. Convey good feelings to your child about dental visits being a part of growing up. Please do not say, “The dentist will not hurt you.” Instead, say, “The dentist will be very gentle with you while looking at your teeth.” 

If you or anyone around the child has an existing fear of the dentist, work hard not to transfer these fears to your child. Parents are extremely important in ensuring their children have a great dental experience. The less to-do concerning the visit, the better. We'll take care of the rest!

If you aren't comfortable with your child being treated using traditional evidence-based methods, Shawnee Pediatric Dentistry may not be a good fit for your child's dental home.