Our office, as well as the The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Dental Association (ADA), and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) all recommend establishing a "Dental Home" for your child by one year of age. Children who have a dental home are more likely to receive appropriate preventive and routine oral health care.
​
First Visit​
What to expect
Our goal is to make every experience a fun and memorable one. During the visit, we invite you to stay with your child during the examination. You will be seated in the dental chair with your child on your lap if your child isn’t able to, or doesn’t want to sit in the chair alone. Dr. Holden will examine your child to make sure their jaw and teeth are developing properly, check for mouth injuries, cavities or any other issues. Our goal is to establish your child's confidence, to educate you about your child’s oral health care and to address any questions or concerns you may have.
What NOT to say
It is best if you refrain from using words around your child that might cause unnecessary fear, such as "needle", "shot", "pull", "drill" or "hurt". The office makes a practice of using words that convey the same message, but are pleasant and non-frightening to the child.
Tips for a great visit
-
​Don’t schedule an appointment during naptime. We recommend morning appointments for the little ones.
-
Make sure your child has had a light meal and brushes their teeth before their appointment so they won’t be hungry during their visit.
-
Think of the appointment as a happy and fun experience.