Your Child's First Visit
Your child's first visit to our dental office should be fun and educational. Good habits start early and early exposure to a positive dental experience will help unfold a lifetime of oral health!
We usually schedule their first visit at Age 3, unless there is an emergency or suspicion of early childhood cavities. We encourage mom or dad to be present with their child during their entire visit. We love to have any sibling "go first" as a good example!
We teach you and your child how to best care for their teeth, advise on eating habits, explain how cavities are formed and answer any specific questions you may have. All information is provided in an age appropriate manner to help nurture and encourage your child.
We look forward to partnering with you to build a lifetime of good dental habits for your children.
Childhood is where healthy habits begin!
NEW PATIENT FORMS
For your convenience and to save time at your child's first visit to our office, we ask that you click here for Patient Registration Forms which can be printed, completed and brought with you to your first appointment.
We believe that respect, good communication, and understanding, are the basis for an admirable, worthy relationship. Because we strongly believe in our work and professional efforts and hold the relationship we develop with our patients and parents so highly, we ask that you print, read and sign the following documents.
Please feel free to discuss any questions with any of our team, we are all happy to help you.
If you have any questions, please contact us at (919) 479-5800 or send us an E-mail at dentist@willowdaileddds.com
YOUR CHILD’S DENTAL APPOINTMENT
Your child’s dental care is very important to us. We are excited to make their visit a positive experience. The following information will help make for a happier and pleasant appointment for all involved:
1. Treatment must start on schedule. A late arrival may necessitate rescheduling. To assist in a positive
experience, we encourage morning appointments when children have a better attention span and are fresh.
2. If you cannot keep your appointment, please call us to cancel at least the day before the appointment. This
courtesy will enable us to place another patient in your appointment time.
3. Please don’t spend a lot of time preparing your child for the dental visit. Treat their visit as an every day
occurrence, like going to the store. Teasing or telling scary stories about dental visits must be avoided. Once in
the treatment room, the treatment team will explain the procedure in order to put your child at ease.
4. Willowdaile Family Dentistry allows one parent in each dental treatment room and we have placed chair there
for your comfort. However, having a parent in the dental treatment room is not always in the best interest of
the child, parent, or dental personnel. Sometimes if the parent is present, there is no “transfer of authority and
trust” to the dental treatment team; communication and management are usually more difficult. Often, parents
are not able to understand and deal with the emotional aspects or procedures that take place during treatment
(administration of anesthesia, tooth extraction, bleeding, etc.) and react inappropriately (say the wrong things
to the child, ask questions that upset the child, show the child that they are scared, become emotional
themselves, etc.), thereby making the treatment more difficult for everyone involved. For the reasons stated,
parents may be asked not to remain in the room while dental treatment takes place if we think it is in the best
interest of your child.
5. Before entering the treatment room, children should be encouraged to go to the bathroom. This will avoid
wasted time and potential “accidents” in the dental chair.
6. Upon completion of treatment, a member of the treatment team will explain what was done and answer any
questions.
7. After the visit, your child must be watched closely to protect him/her from self-injury. Pay particular attention
to lip and cheek chewing due to numbness from the local anesthetic.
8. If any pain develops as a result of the dental procedures, give the appropriate dose of Children’s Tylenol.
9. If any extractions (removal of teeth) were done, do not allow your child to rinse, drink from a straw, pick on
the area with a fingernail, or eat hard foods. If you note any bleeding, have him/her bite firmly on a tightly
folded gauze pad or tissue for fifteen to thirty minutes.
If any problems arise or if you have any questions or concerns, always feel free to call us at (919) 479-5800.
