Pediatric Dental Visit   |   Orthodontic Visit   |   New Patient Forms

Pediatric Dental Visit

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!

Orthodontic Visit

Thanks to today’s technology, patients now have more options when it comes to wearing braces. While regular metal braces are still widely used, clear braces are becoming increasingly popular along with Invisalign.

Orthodontics is the specialty of dentistry concerned with building beautiful smiles. Orthodontic treatment can be used to correct malocclusions. This condition, commonly known as “bad bite,” involves teeth that are crooked or crowded. In some cases, this can cause an uneven bite where the upper and lower jaws don’t align properly. Correcting the problem can create a great smile that is healthy, easier to clean, and one that will last a lifetime.
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When should I see an orthodontist?

 There’s no set age for when people should start going to the orthodontist, however beginning early can lead to better results in a shorter amount of time and at a lower cost. The American Association of Orthodontics recommends that orthodontic treatment begin at the first sign of orthodontic problems or by the age of 7. Beginning at an early age can give you a head start on correcting any problems such as crowding or crossbites. Even if no immediate action is needed, an early visit can give your orthodontist an idea of when to start treatment.
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Am I a candidate for orthodontics?

Listed here are early warning signs that it is time for an orthodontic evaluation from the American Association of Orthodontics:

• Early or late loss of baby teeth

• Difficulty in chewing or biting

• Mouth breathing

• Finger sucking or other oral habits

• Crowding, misplaced, or blocked-out teeth

• Jaws that shift, make sounds, protrude or retrude

• Speech difficulty

• Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth

• Protruding teeth

• Teeth that meet in an abnormal way or don't meet at all

• Facial imbalance or asymmetry

• Grinding or clenching of teeth
   

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