Our goal is to provide children with positive dental experiences from birth through adolescence. Positive dental experiences will set children up for a lifetime of good dental care. The purpose of this first dental experience is to establish a trusting relationship with your child and to evaluate your child’s dental health. We recommend that children are seen by the age of one. Whether their first visit is at age one or at age eighteen, our staff will work to make their visit fun and comfortable. Our main goal of the first visit is to educate the parents and child. We will discuss with you and your child proper brushing and flossing, diet, habits, fluoride needs, review common dental problems and answer any questions you may have.

The focus of this visit is prevention. We will examine the teeth and gums for any signs of cavities, infection, or other abnormalities. We will evaluate any habits that the child has (thumb-sucking, pacifier use, bottles, etc). We will review with parents preventive measures such as brushing, flossing, fluoride, and diet. At the end of the visit we will apply a fluoride treatment to the teeth to help strengthen the enamel and prevent decay.

At this age we will begin using our “tickle toothbrush” to clean the teeth. We may also take selected x-rays of the mouth to check for proper growth and development, decay, missing or extra teeth, and infections in the bone. Prevention is still an important part of the visit – we will evaluate the patient’s oral hygiene and make specific recommendations to help prevent cavities. At every visit we will examine the teeth for cavities, gums for infection and check oral tissues for any abnormalities. We will also evaluate growth and development. At the end of the visit we will apply a fluoride treatment to the teeth to help strengthen the enamel and prevent decay.

Adolescence often brings many changes and challenges when it comes to oral hygiene. Growing doesn’t stop at childhood – teens experience important growth in their faces and jaws. At this age, patients have usually lost all their baby teeth and oftentimes are undergoing orthodontic treatment (braces). We will evaluate the patient’s oral hygiene and make recommendations based on individual needs. Patients in braces should have received specific instructions regarding brushing, flossing and rinsing. Our staff will make sure that the patient is following these recommendations and can provide guidance if needed. Oftentimes patients in braces will benefit from receiving preventive care every 3 months rather than every 6 months. If they have not yet seen an orthodontist, we might take a panoramic x-ray to check for any missing or extra teeth, to evaluate growth and development, and to look for any other abnormalities. As always, we will examine the teeth for cavities and the gums for infection. At the end of the visit we will apply a fluoride treatment to the teeth to help strengthen the enamel and prevent decay.