Frequently Asked Questions
A pediatric dentist is a specialized dentist who focuses on the oral health of infants, children, and adolescents. They have gone to an additional 2 years of training, beyond the 8 years of schooling required to be a dentist, training them with knowledge in child psychology, growth and development, and specific dental treatments tailored to kids. Pediatric dental offices are child-friendly, creating a welcoming and friendly environment to make children feel comfortable during dental visits. This helps build a positive association with dental care from an early age. Pediatric Dentists have learned skills to handle the challenges that come with treating young patients, including dental anxiety and behavioral issues. This specialized dentistry sets a good foundation for a lifetime of good dental habits and a beautiful smile, making a pediatric dentist an excellent choice for your child’s oral health journey.
We know how busy life can be. Fitting a dental appointment into a busy schedule can feel like a hassle, but it’s worth it. Although brushing and flossing each day will keep many oral health problems away, it’s not a complete guarantee. It typically takes about six months for a small cavity to develop, so by scheduling a check up twice a year, we’re making sure that nothing gets out of hand and becomes costly and painful in your kid’s mouth.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that kids should have their initial dental checkup by first tooth or first birthday, whichever comes first. We fully agree with this recommendation!
We welcome babies through kids up to age 18, or until big kids decide they are too cool for us. Usually by then they have most of their adult teeth, and they’re ready for one of those boring, adult dental practices.
Parents are welcome to accompany their children to the exam room for routine checkups. During restorative procedures, we allow one parent in the room because of the small area. Of course, if you prefer to stay in our waiting area, you are welcome to do that as well. Either way, our dentists will always visit directly with our patient’s parent/responsible adult to keep them updated on what was done during the appointment and what the next steps are.
During IV sedatives, we request that the parent remain in the waiting room. Due to limited space, there is simply not enough room in the treatment rooms to accommodate parents, along with the medical equipment, staff, CRNA, and doctor. We do ask that you remain in the office during treatment so you will be aware of any changes and give us permission to complete these changes.
Fun stuff happens at our office when we see a new patient for the first time. Prior to your visit, you will receive a link as a text and/or email to fill out our new patient forms. When you arrive, your kids can always start off with playing games on our kid-friendly tablets in our Control Center area. We also have a photobooth to capture those smiles. For details on what a typical visit to our office is like for different ages, visit our Dental Appointments page.
Unless it is an emergency situation, our dentist will want to have a consultation and be able to examine your child’s teeth for decay and then suggest the right treatment based on the extent of the tooth decay. If another dentist has already checked your child, we are glad to review their X-rays and create a treatment plan based on their age and dental history. We’ll then schedule an appointment for fixing things up.
A typical exam appointment usually takes about 30 minutes. Restorative appointments are scheduled for 1 hour. IV Sedations are scheduled for 2 hours.
Our appointments begin at 8:00 AM, and the latest one is set for 4:30 PM. Those after-school slots get taken up really fast. To secure the best time for you, we recommend scheduling your next appointment during your current visit. You can always call to change it later if needed. Just remember, we have been scheduling cleaning appointments for the past six months, so it might take a few weeks to find another slot for you. If you need to cancel, please let us know at least 24 hours in advance so we can offer that time to another patient waiting for an appointment.
We are In-Networks for many dental insurance plans, but check with us to make sure yours is included. We are “Out-of-Network” for all HMO and DHMO PLANS. They have their own network of doctors. Check out our Financial Info page for more information.
While we don’t provide orthodontic services ourselves, we’re connected with some fantastic orthodontists who do. We’d be thrilled to recommend one based on what you’re looking for and where you’re located.
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We are thrilled with the photos on our website, all thanks to Becca Henrie Photography. We are delighted with the beautiful images of our fun office, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome of our team photos. You can see more of her work her website, Facebook, and Instagram.
Website: https://www.beccahenriephotography.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beccahenriephotos/
