The first visit to a dentist can be very intimidating for some patients. The purpose of the first visit is to build a trusting relationship with your child. The appointment you have scheduled for your child is made to give your child individualized attention. Your appointment will be scheduled by one of our Patient Care Coordinators. Please let them know if you have any questions or concerns.
Every effort is made to provide a caring and nurturing environment so that your child has a successful dental visit. Prior to the appointment, you can help your child prepare for the visit. Please explain to your child that they will be meeting new people and will be experiencing new things. Please avoid using words that can induce anxiety and fear such as…sharp tools, needles, shot, drill. We carefully select words that will foster a pleasant experience at their first appointment! Parents are always welcome into the first appointment. Our goal is to make your child happy and comfortable.
Our office, as well as the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, recommends that a child’s first dental visit is scheduled by his/her first birthday. We ask that the child’s parent or legal guardian accompany the patient.
On the first visit, our focus will be on getting to know your child and establishing Southwoods Smile Squad as your child’s dental home. We will discuss medical history, concerns you may have, previous dental experiences, diet and nutrition, hygiene routine, and habits that may be affecting your child’s teeth. After gathering all of this detailed information we will perform a complete oral exam, an age-appropriate cleaning, and dental radiographs will be prescribed as needed.
Any findings will be discussed and recommended procedures will be explained to you in detail. As a pediatric dental office, we do our best to modify terminology for your child to alleviate any anxiety they may have if dental work is needed. Sometimes, we will ask one of our team members to engage your child in picking a prize or a game while we discuss your child’s treatment needs. Dr. Gallo and her team are here to alleviate all of your concerns, so at this time we will also answer any questions you may have. We will also discuss brushing and flossing techniques, fluoride recommendations, and nutritional guidance tailored to your child. Our goal is to provide optimal care to your child.
Part of our mission is to make every effort to see patients at their scheduled appointment times. Some children may require extra attention to coach them through their dental visit and some children may be rushed into the office due to dental emergencies. Please know that the extra time spent on a patient when needed holds true for all of our patients. This individualized care is something that our office prides itself on.
Unfortunately, specialized care may slightly interrupt our schedule once in a while and we ask for your patience if this does occur. Additionally, we ask that as a new patient you make every effort to arrive 15 minutes early for your scheduled appointment time. This allows us time to complete all paperwork and discuss any concerns, insurance issues, and other questions you might have.
