Age One Dental Visit

The American Academies of Pediatric Dentistry and Pediatrics recommend children should visit the dentist within 6 months of the first tooth erupting, no later than 12 months of age. Early preventative care gives kids the best chance at being cavity-free. Studies have shown that compared to kids that started dental care at age 1, those that started later ended up with more expenses and more required treatment.

Getting to know Dr. Martha and Dr. Parisa and the rest of our team will be a fun and enjoyable experience for you and your child. You will be greeted as you enter our "Bluebird Lounge" where we have books and toys for children.  Once you have been checked in and your forms are complete, we will bring you and your child into our clinical area.  We will show your child the dental chair.  We will review your child’s medical and dental histories.  We will introduce your child to our tools that we use for cleaning teeth and let them select a toothpaste flavor.  We will adapt to your child's pace and do our best to help them feel comfortable with our procedures. If x-rays are appropriate or needed for diagnosis, we will coach your child on that process.  We prioritize easy scheduling and allow you to schedule all of your children at once.  We find that smaller children do better in the morning and schedule accordingly.

Your initial exam will last approximately one hour. Oral hygiene instructions along with nutritional counseling will be given with suggestions to help you care for your child's teeth and keep them healthy for life. In most cases, we will also clean your child's teeth on this visit, and provide an evaluation that will outline your child's existing dental problems and proposed treatment.

May we make the following suggestions to make your child’s first visit to Bluebird a great one?

• Tell your child that the dentist will be gentle and friendly and will count their teeth.

• Please do not tell your child that the dentist will not hurt, as this may never have entered their mind. Please do not use words such as needle, shots, drill or other words suggesting unpleasantness.

• Expect your child to do well and enjoy the first visit to our office and chances are they will!

The initial appointment is reserved specifically for your child. Any change in this appointment affects many patients. If a cancellation is unavoidable, please call the office at least 24 hours in advance so that we may give that time to another patient.

Please complete the New Patient Health History forms before your first visit.

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Read below to know what to expect for your first visit.

What should I bring to my first visit?

On the evening that you schedule your child's appointment, you will receive a link via email or text to complete our new patient paperwork electronically. Please bring a list of any medications that your child takes and a list of any medical specialists or therapists your child sees.

Do you accept insurance, and what can I expect to pay?

We ​are not in-network with any insurance plans.  This allows us to be unrestricted dental providers and employ any procedures and materials that would benefit your child the most without restrictions from insurance companies.  You will pay in full on the day services are rendered for all procedures.  We will provide you with the information that you need to submit your reimbursement request from your insurance company and they will send the check directly to you.  We will be able to work with you on payment plans if your child needs any dental treatment.  We also offer a Smile Club plan.  Click here for more information about Smile Club! We do accept Medicaid under very specific parameters, please call to see if your child may qualify. Our team will be happy to discuss fees and insurance with parents prior to your first visit to our office, and any time thereafter. Please contact us with any questions.

What if my child is nervous about their visit?

It’s normal for children to be anxious about visits to the dentist. Pediatric dentists have special training in helping children feel secure during treatment.  ​We find that it is especially helpful if you do not over-prepare your child for their visit.  Likely, it is not going to be a whole lot like your dental visits, so sharing your experiences is not often beneficial.  Please do not share any negative experiences that you may have had with your child (this includes talking to people in front of your children about these experiences in the home, on the phone, at the store.  Children are ALWAYS listening except when you say clean your room!)  If you have experiences you would like to share with our dental team, we recommend that you call us ahead of time or take one of us aside and whisper so the child doesn't hear it.  ​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".  Our office makes a practice of using words that are age-appropriate and convey the same message but are more pleasant and non-threatening to the child.  Please don't walk in and say "they won't hurt you", you don't say that at other new places like school, daycare, the movies, etc.  Brushing, counting, and looking at teeth does not hurt, but telling your child we won't hurt them may make them wonder why you have said this and be more nervous the whole time. Our office is designed to be kid-friendly and fun, and our staff members choose to work in a pediatric office because they enjoy working with children.

We invite you to stay with your child during the initial examination. During future appointments, we suggest you allow your child to accompany our staff through the dental experience. We can usually establish a closer rapport with your child when you are not present. Our purpose is to gain your child's confidence and overcome apprehension. However, if you choose, you may come with your child to the treatment room. For the safety and privacy of all patients, other children who are not being treated or seen on the same day should not come to the office.

​Schedule your child’s appointment today!