For Our Parents
We Look Forward to Meeting You
Welcome to Our Pediatric
Dental Office!
Thank you for this opportunity to introduce you to our office, our mission, and what to expect when arriving for your child's dental appointment.
The first visit at the dentist's office is an adventure for young children. They will discover so much about their teeth and themselves. Some children will come in excited and some will feel apprehensive. By choosing a Pediatric Dentist, you are taking an important first step in creating a positive dental attitude for your child. With specialty training and a fun environment, we hope to give your child a good dental experience, starting at a very young age.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Academy of Pediatrics both recommend that the first dental visit be at one year of age.
Children who have their first dental experience when they are young are more likely to have a favorable outlook toward dental care throughout life. You, as parents, play a very important role in getting your child started with a positive attitude toward dental care. Because dental visits are an integral part of your child's total health program, we approach the first visit as a natural part of your concern for optimal health care for your child.
One of the useful things that you can do is to be completely natural and easy going when you tell your child about the first appointment with the dentist. The less "fuss" the better. This approach will enable your child to view it as an opportunity to meet new people who are interested in him/her and can help him/her to stay healthy. Our office does encourage parents to be with their child during dental visits. This allows for a positive, shared experience, and an appreciation of how our highly trained staff works with infants and children.
By starting early, we can address issues such as teething, infant oral health care, and preventing cavities. Early childhood cavities are heartbreaking. We will discuss how cavities are formed and how you can help to prevent them at home through proper oral hygiene and feeding habits.
Together, we can help your child have a lifetime of healthy and beautiful smiles. This website is designed to answer some of the many questions that you may have about your child's appointment and other dental related topics.
Your
Child's First Pediatric Dental Visit
We recognize that every child is unique. Pediatric dental offices are developed with that in mind. The purpose of the first visit is to establish a positive relationship with your child and to evaluate your child's dental health. Our office has highly trained staff and a fun environment to make your child's first visit comfortable and enjoyable. We will help your child learn about the dental visit, taking one step at a time so that he/she will not be as fearful. There are games, toys, books, and televisions to entertain your child at the office.
We encourage you to accompany your child/children throughout the visit, to see what we see inside the mouth, and to help your child/children through each appointment. The initial visit, which will last about an hour, consists of x-rays, a cleaning, a fluoride treatment, and an examination by the Doctor.
You
can find more information on our
Ask the Doctor page.
X-rays
and Cleaning
If appropriate, we will take x-rays (pictures) of your child's teeth. Radiographs (x-rays) are vital and essential in completely and properly diagnosing cavities and other dental problems. Without x-rays, certain serious dental conditions can and will be missed. We definitely limit your child's exposure to the minimum amounts necessary to ensure a proper diagnosis.
Your child’s teeth will be cleaned and then protected with a topical fluoride application. By using various techniques such as "Tell-Show-Do" and age appropriate words (such as "tooth tickler" and "Mr. Thirsty"), we can help your child understand and feel more comfortable during the cleaning.
Examination of the Teeth & Oral Cavity
Finally, one of our terrific Doctors will examine (count) your child’s teeth. Using a "tooth counter" and the "baby tooth mirror," we'll show both your child and yourself all the discoveries that we find. Appropriate oral hygiene and diet instructions will be given, specific to your child's needs. Then, discovering the "prize cabinet" is always a fun part of the visit. We reward your child for trying and doing his/her best!
Parents are welcome to either relax in the reception room or accompany their child into the operatory area. We do need to have a parent or legal guardian in the operatory for all examination and emergency evaluation appointments in order to get your written, informed consent for any other needed treatment for your child.
During the examination appointment, we will examine the erupted teeth for cavities, the gums for infection, and the other mouth tissues for any abnormalities. We will evaluate the way your child's teeth come together (the occlusion) and check for sufficient room for the permanent teeth to erupt. We will evaluate the effects of any childhood habits such as thumb sucking, use of a pacifier, or prolonged use of the baby bottle. At the end of the visit, we will thoroughly discuss all of our findings, the necessary treatment plan, as well as all dental issues pertinent to protecting the well-being of your child's oral health.
Many parents want to know how often their child needs to come to the dentist. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a check-up every six months to prevent cavities and other dental diseases. At each check-up, we will review your child's growth and development and have recommendations specific to your child's age and level of development such as the need for orthodontics.
At the first visit we will be able to answer your specific questions such as:
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does my child have any cavities? |
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when will my child’s teeth come in? |
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are oral habits such as thumb sucking harmful? |
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what’s the best way to brush? |
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does my child need braces? |
Please feel free to address any concerns or questions that you may have during your first visit to our office. Good health depends in large part upon the development of good habits such as sensible eating and sleeping routines, exercise, and recreation. Dental health also depends upon good habits that include proper tooth brushing and flossing, regular visits to the dentist, and the avoidance of excessive sweets.
What Should Be Done After a Visit?
If you have any questions about home care for your child after a dental treatment appointment, you can access our
Post-Operative Care Instructions.
Links
For more information on oral health related issues, you can visit the following websites that hold a wealth of information about everything tooth related.
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
http://www.aapd.org
The American Dental Association
http://www.ada.org
California Society of Pediatric Dentistry
http://www.cspd.org
California Dental Association
http://www.cda.org
California Dental Hygienists Association
http://www.cdha.org
San Francisco Dental Society
Pacific Center for Special Care Dentistry at UOP
http://www.pacificspecialcare.org
Special Care Dentistry
Disclaimer
Doctor Haeberlein, Doctor Wang, and the other Doctors in the Discovery Dental Group make no warranties, expressed or implied, as to any results to be obtained from use of the information "What should I do in a Dental Emergency." We cannot diagnose or treat patients over the Internet. Information on this site is for educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for personal, medical, and/or dental attention or diagnosis. Without all available information about a patient, it is impossible to make a diagnosis. Help and answers are in the form of general ideas. Only you, your dentist, and other necessary and qualified health care providers can make an appropriate treatment decision in an emergency or for everyday care and dental treatment.
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