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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.
We strive
to make each and every visit to
our office a fun one!
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