St. Petersburg dentist, Dentist in St. Petersburg, FL

FIRST VISIT

Children's dentistry is a very important health service, and successful children's dentistry must begin with proper education and preparation. We would like to guide you in helping your child have a pleasant experience and a lifetime of dental education.

Your Child's First Visit

Give your child the opportunity to hear of pleasant dental experiences, only. It is best to tell the child about a dental visit the night before the appointment. Of course, always refer to the Doctor as "our Friend.

Please convey the feeling that dental visits are a part of growing up. Don't offer rewards or indicate in any way there is something to fear. Should you try to bolster a child's courage prior to the dental visit, it may have the opposite effect and frighten them. We offer a safe haven for your child; a professional dental office with an informal atmosphere for the care of all children.

What to tell your child

If your child should ask searching questions, explain that the Doctor is going to look at their teeth, clean them and take some pictures of their teeth, and will always explain everything that is going to be done before it happens. In discussing dentistry, please do not use the words: "needle", "shot", "drill", "pull", "hurt", or any other verb that might have an unpleasant meaning.

Please do not be upset if your child cries. Children may be afraid of anything new and strange. Kindness is the greatest contribution for overcoming fear, and it must be our united objective to eliminate dental fears. We believe you will be very pleased with your child's visit.

If your child is willing, we would prefer that he or she come back with the assistant to the operatory by themselves. If they are reluctant then you may walk them back to the operatory. Once they are settled we would ask you to return to the reception area. We have found that the child will cooperate much better if parents are not present during treatment. With the parent present they will play you against us and make it more difficult to accomplish what needs to be done.

Appointments

All new patient appointments are scheduled in the morning only, between 8:00 and 11:20. Because this appointment is so vital in starting off on the right foot , we take more time with your child, have more procedures to accomplish, teach the child home care instructions and consult with the parents, therefore more time than is available in the afternoon appointments.