First Visit

Your Child's First Visit

Your child should visit the pediatric dentist by his/her 1st birthday. You can make the first visit to the pediatric dentist enjoyable and positive. Your child should be informed of the visit and told that the pediatric dentist and his team will explain all procedures and answer any questions. The less to-do concerning the visit, the better.

It is best if you refrain from using words around your child that might cause unnecessary fear, such as needle, pull, drill or hurt. Pediatric dental offices make a practice of using words that convey the same message, but are pleasant and non-frightening to the child. We encourage and allow our parents to enter our clinical area, however, we are very experienced in dealing with children and please allow Dr Brasuell and our staff to do the majority of conversing with your child to help make them feel more comfortable. Many parents’ own fears of going to the dentist can be inadvertently transferred to the child which can hinder positive behavior.

Take good care of your child's baby teeth. They do eventually fall out but until they do, baby teeth play an important role in helping your child bite and chew food, and speak clearly. Many of the same treatment and evaluation options that adults have are also available to kids. These include X-rays, dental sealants, orthodontic treatment and more.

What to Expect at Your Child's First Visit
 
This first dental visit is to learn about your child's oral health and how to best care for your child's unique needs before any problems occur. Many dental problems can be prevented or more easily treated in the early stages. At this first visit, Dr. Brasuell and his staff will answer your questions and start to build a relationship with you and your child.

Our office staff takes great pride in being child and parent friendly. We will always strive to be responsive to you and your child when it comes to their oral health, growth and development. Your child well be treated with gentleness, kindness, and respect regardless of how uneasy or difficult they may be while we examine their mouth.

Every parent is provided specific advice about regular follow-up care and told specifically how to reach our office in case of an accident or dental emergency.

Dr. Brasuell will always discuss the next steps and phases you can expect in your child's oral development to help you to guard and promote your child's oral health. We want you to consider us your "dental family" and look forward to meeting you and your child.

Before leaving our office, you will have a clear picture about:
  • Your child's development
  • Your responsibilities
  • Follow-up care by the dentist
  • Your child's likelihood of having problems with cavities or bite
What We Will Discuss With Parents
  • How to care for an infant's or toddler's mouth
  • Proper use of fluoride
  • Oral habits, including finger and thumb sucking
  • Ways to prevent accidents that could damage the face and teeth
  • Teething and milestones of development
  • The link between diet and oral health
After this first visit, Dr. Brasuell will suggest a schedule of follow-up visits. This schedule may vary according to each child's needs and risks. As your child grows, our dental team can help you learn how to prevent common oral problems.

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