Your child’s comfort is our first priority at Pediatric Dental Specialists.

Did you know that your child’s first dental visit should be around the age of one? While that might seem early, remember that prevention is key to a healthy smile. At Pediatric Dental Specialists, we care about your child and want them to be comfortable. Even more, we want them to actually enjoy their visits to the dentist’s office!

Here are a few ways we go about providing excellent, kid-friendly treatments and services.

We make you feel welcome.

At Pediatric Dental Specialists, we want parents to be involved from start to finish. We start by introducing our entire staff to you and your child, and we are more than happy to answer any questions you may have, at any time throughout the process.

Our main objective for early dental visits is to ensure that your child is comfortable in the dental environment and that they have no anxieties or fears about visiting the dentist. We want their visit to the dentist to be calm and memorable – not scary and hectic.

We also love working with the parents. After all, you know your child best! We want to work with you to ensure you understand what is happening. The staff at Pediatric Dental Specialists will be there the entire way to answer any questions you may have. We also want you there to help communicate to your child that we are here to help them and the dentist office isn’t a scary place – it’s a place where people care about the health of their teeth!

We provide detailed explanations of treatment.

Every step of the way, we explain what we will be doing. Our team will even demonstrate any dental procedure on a puppet for your and your child. We also demonstrate all of the dental tools that will be used, and touch the tools to your child’s fingertips so that they can feel what will be going in their mouth, ensuring that it will cause them no pain. 

If your child needs more distraction from what is happening during their dental visit, we offer fidget toys and educational and fun television shows that the child can watch while we perform their dental evaluations. Of course, we also provide a special reward after a visit!

We encourage kids to “visit young, visit often.”

The first visit to a dentist’s office will often be a visit to get your child comfortable with the sights and sounds of the dental office. Usually, we’ll have your child sit in the dental chair and get used to the feel of the office. The first visit to our office can also be a great educational opportunity for the parent to learn how to properly care for their child’s teeth, including proper brushing techniques for little ones and even recommendations on the types of toothpaste and mouthwash to use. This can be very beneficial for first-time parents.

If you decide to wait a little longer to bring your little one to the dentist, the standard bi-annual dental visit should start by the time your child is three years old. These early visits are often about making sure your child’s teeth are being cared for properly and that they are using the proper brushing techniques for good oral hygiene, like brushing twice a day for at least two minutes each time.

Your dentist will usually take your child’s first set of X-rays by the time they enter kindergarten or reach the age of five. Did you know that cavities can begin forming at this early age? That is why good brushing and flossing habits are always encouraged!

Identify necessary treatments early on.

Some dentists may recommend children visit an orthodontist, or a dentist who specializes in treating irregularities in the teeth and jaw, as early as age seven. Seeing an orthodontist early allows the orthodontist to identify any jaw or bone issues. Your child might need early orthodontic treatment, such as a palatal expander to ensure proper growth of their jaw. Early intervention doesn’t mean your child won’t need orthodontic treatment in the future, but it could reduce the time (and cost) needed to achieve optimal results.

Having your child visit the dentist early (and frequently) can help prevent bad dental habits, and your dentist can identify any concerns before they become serious, because sometimes, waiting to address issues with a child’s teeth can lead to more complex procedures later on (and no one wants that!)

Schedule your appointment today.

At Pediatric Dental Specialists, we truly love children, and absolutely love the job we do. We want to make sure that you and your child have a comfortable experience, and we’re here to help quell any fears or anxieties about visiting the dental office. 

Give us a call today to schedule your appointment. We can’t wait to see your smiling faces!