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YOUR CHILD'S FIRST VISIT
The child's first visit is important for several reasons. In many in-stances, it is the child's first experience with dentistry; in some cases, the child has had a previous unpleasant experience. Emergency problems will be dealt with first; if your child is in pain we will do our best to alleviate it. If there are no emergency problems, we will examine your childs mouth (lips, cheeks, tongue, floor of the mouth, tonsil area, hard and soft palate), check the growth and development of the head, check the teeth and gums. The child will receive a thorough cleaning, topical fluoride treatment and we will take such x-ray films as are necessary.
We will evaluate any tongue, lip, cheek or thumb habit that may influence the development of attractive teeth. We will also examine your child to see how active his or her organized bacteria are at producing dental disease.
During your initial visit we will want to confer with you about your childs health history. After this has been completed, there will be a consultation during which we will present our findings and recommendations. We will explain to you the amount of time and money that treatment, should any be needed, will involve. We will be most happy to answer any of your questions at this time.
Because this first visit is easy and enjoyable, it helps to overcome many of the fears, which the child has acquired and the child becomes acquainted with dentistry in a pleasant manner.
What Should I Tell my Child before the First Visit?
You can explain to your child that the dentist wants to be a friend and help care for his or her teeth. At the first visit the dentist will count your teeth, clean them with a special tickling toothbrush, and take some pictures of your mouth. Never tell a child that the dentist will not hurt, as this may never have entered the childs mind, but rather, that the dentist will be very gentle.
We would like to welcome you and thank you for the privilege of assuming the dental care of your child. Our staff is devoted to making your childs visits here a comfortable, pleasant experience and rendering the best dental treatment available. Very often this is your childs first encounter with dentistry and you have many questions. This page will answer many of those questions concerning your childrens teeth and our office policies.
What is the best time to schedule an appointment?
Since we care only for children, it is not possible to give everyone appointments in the late afternoon or early morning. We like to reserve these times for some of the older children. Children under age five are in a better frame of mind and behave better in the morning. The best time for appointments is not after school when your child is tired of sitting and needs to be active, physically. Younger children need rest at this time of the day.
We prefer to see children requiring long appointment procedures in the morning. In this way, we can be fair to our patients who require shorter procedures by offering them more available time in the afternoons when the school day is over.
The appointment time is reserved specifically for your child. It is greatly appreciated when you arrive for your childs appointment on time so we can spend all the time with your child that he or she deserves. If you find out you cannot keep a scheduled appointment, please call 24 hours in advance so we may reschedule your child at a convenient time, and to enable us to offer this appointment time to another patient. Continued broken confirmed appointments will result in a charge being made for this reserved time.
When should a child be seen by a dentist?
Dont wait until your child has a problem before you make a dental appointment. The child at age three is ready for a complete oral examination, x-rays, and a cleaning and fluoride treatment. By beginning as early as possible, we can minimize your childs dental problems and your dental bills. By introducing the child to dentistry when little or no work is needed, they come away as better patients with a more positive attitude about dentistry.
But will my child be good?
The reason this office and its routine are somewhat different than most dental offices is to make your child feel more comfortable and familiar with new surroundings. Part of our concept is to undo the fears that parents often pass on to their children about going to the dentist.
It is normal for children to be afraid of anything new or strange. Most fear is fear of the unknown. We try to remove the unknown by proceeding at a reasonable pace for the childs age and explaining everything we do in terms the child can understand.
Do not be upset if your child is anxious on the first appointment or perhaps even the second. This is a normal reaction for some children. We will do our best to help alleviate any anxieties.
May I accompany my child?
It is requested that parents remain in the reception room. We have found that children are much better patients when parents are not in the treatment area. Most children are easily separated from their parents by age three. There are exceptions, depending upon the childs emotional and physical condition.
If for some specific reason we should ask you to be in the treatment area, your presence will be greatly enhanced if you assume the role of a silent observer.
If more than one person is talking or directing, the child tends to become confused. Cooperation and trust must be established directly with the child and not through the parent. Each child must be treated as an individual. Normally, parents will be called into the treatment area when treatment is completed.
One Step Further-Prevention
We emphasize preventing dental problems, and will provide you with tools and instructions for a preventive home care program. A practical and simple method has been developed for insuring that your child, with your help, can enjoy a clean and healthy mouth, free of dental disease.
Dentist
In Upland California and the surrounding
Rancho Cucamonga - Claremont - Montclair - Chino CA areas.
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