Our #1 goal is for your child to have a good experience. We believe that any dental treatment can be accomplished without fear or tears.

We first will work to make your child comfortable in the dental setting and will address any concerns or worries your child may have.

We will explain things to your child in a fashion that’s appropriate for their age without using scary sounding words. Only after your child is comfortable will we look at their teeth.

There is  significant value in your child seeing the pediatric dentist by the time he or she is 1 year old or within 6 months of the first baby tooth coming in.
‍
If your child is an infant, Dr. Monica will take a brief look and spend time talking to you about the best way to take care of your child’s teeth. This is a very simple and easy appointment.

Many children won’t cooperate for a full cleaning and exam until around the age of 3, and most children won’t be ready for cavity detecting x-rays until the age of 4 or older.

Word choice! That’s one of the most important concepts relating to your child’s dental experience. When referring to the dentist, please do not use any scary sounding words. Please make sure that there are no relatives or friends who will use scary sounding words! Word choice is critical to the success of your child’s visit.

Some children may not be ready for a cleaning and exam on their first visit. They may simply come in for a chance to look around, sit in a dental chair, and then pick out a prize – and that’s perfectly fine!

The more your child is at our office, the more comfortable he or she will be and the sooner they’ll want to have their teeth sparkled and counted! We will determine your child’s comfort level and will use that to determine what we’ll do that day.

Absolutely! Parents can definitely be back for first visits and cleanings.

Or, if you prefer, you can relax in our living room. Usually it’s ok for parents to accompany their child for treatment visits like a filling or an extraction; other times it may be better if the parent is not back with the child.

Every child and parent is different, so you and Dr. Monica will work together to help figure out what scenario works to make sure your child has the best experience possible.