occur by his/her first birthday. With your help we can make this initial visit the most positive
experience possible!
Here are a few suggestions to prepare your youngster for the initial visit:
- Inform your child of the appointment. Tell your child that the dentist wants to get to know
him/her; present this visit as an exciting experience for yourself and for your child. One way
to convey good feelings to your child about dental visits is to remind them that going to the
dentist is a sign that they are growing up. - Tell your child that we will “count,” “brush,” and “take pictures” of his/her teeth. By explaining
the exam and the cleaning in these terms, your child will better understand the situation. - Be incredibly positive about this experience. Avoid negative words such as “hurt,” “drill,”
“pull,” and “shot.” Please do not tell your child that the "dentist will not hurt you" as this may
never have entered his/her mind. Instead, you may wish to assure your child that the dentist
and her helpers will be gentle and friendly. Talk about dentistry with a positive attitude. This
initial examination involves nothing uncomfortable and should be perceived by the child as non-
threatening. - Discuss dentistry honestly with your child when he/she asks you questions. Children listen to
your tone of voice and can detect your feelings very easily. If your child has questions that are
difficult for you to answer, please refer him/her to our pediatric dental team for the proper
answer and discussion. - Bring only the child that is to be seen for the dental visit so that both the parent and dental
staff can concentrate on that child’s needs. - We welcome the parent(s) presence during examination appointments. However, this
privilege will be evaluated according to each child's behavior. The parent(s) should be a passive
observer at all times during the child's dental visit. - If your child requires treatment, we ask that you allow them to accompany our staff, by
themselves, through the dental experience. We are all highly experienced in helping children
overcome anxiety. Separation anxiety is not uncommon in children, so please try not to be
concerned if your child exhibits some negative behavior. This is normal and will soon diminish.
Studies and experience have shown that most children react more positively when permitted
to experience the dental visit on their own and in an environment designed especially for
children. Our purpose is to gain your child's confidence and overcome apprehension. Our office
can only achieve a successful relationship with your child when the parents show that they have
confidence in our dental care. - After the appointment, compliment your child’s good behavior at the dentist's office in the
presence of other members of the family.
We want your child's visit to our office to be a happy one. For your information, the first dental visit
to Pediatric Dental Arts will include:
- Meeting Dr. Burruezo and her staff and becoming oriented with the dental office.
- Examining the erupted teeth for cavities, the gums for infection and other mouth tissues for
abnormalities. - Evaluate occlusion, the way the teeth come together.
- Checking for sufficient room for the permanent teeth.
- Determining the effects of childhood habits (e.g., thumb-sucking, pacifiers, bottles, etc.)
- Cleaning of teeth, flossing, scaling (as needed) and office fluoride treatment.
- Obtaining x-ray films (only as needed) for diagnostic purposes (e.g., locating decay, infection in
the bone, position and location of teeth, etc.) We have the newest and safest digital X-ray
equipment and we are extremely skilled in making this procedure easy and fun for your child.
The digital dental X-ray system is more sensitive than dental X-ray film systems, so your
child's exposure to X-rays is cut by as much as 90 percent. Digital technology is safe not only
for our patients, but also for our community because there are no chemicals or lead wrapper
waste to dispose of into the environment. We also follow the guidelines from the American
Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and American Dental Association. - Consultation on diet; home care which consists of tooth brushing, tooth paste, flossing and
fluoride treatment, oral habits; tooth brushing technique for your child; occlusion (bite);
behavior management for home oral hygiene; and a diagnosis and treatment plan to be
discussed with parent(s).
For your convenience, before your child's first appointment please Click here to Download a New
Patient Health History Form. Complete it and bring it with you to you child's first appointment.
Some Suggested Books To Prepare The Child For The First Visit:
 | "The Tooth Book" by Dr. Seuss | |
| "Barney Goes To The Dentist" by Linda Cress Dowdy | |
| "Show Me Your Smile! : A Visit to the Dentist (Dora The Explorer) by Christine Ricci | |
| "The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist" by Stan and Jan Berenstain | |
| "Just Going to the Dentist" by Mercer Mayer |
Some Helpful Websites:
| American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry | |
| ADA Animations and Games | |
| Crest Kids | |
| Colgate Kids World | |
