Our Lees Summit pediatric dental 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. Dr. Mathew and our team are trained and experienced in the unique needs of our pediatric and teen-aged patients. We strive to create a warm, welcoming environment where they feel safe to explore oral health topics and learn more about maintaining a healthy smile.
What to Expect at Your Visit to Summit Pediatric Dentistry
You can help make the first dentist visit enjoyable and positive, too. If old enough, your child should be informed of the visit and told our staff 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,“ “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. We want our patients to have positive experiences in our office so that they look forward to their visits and develop lifelong healthy habits when it comes to their oral hygiene.
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 are more than welcome to accompany your child to the treatment room. For the safety and privacy of all patients, other children who are not being treated should remain in the reception room with a supervising adult.
During this initial visit, we will take time with you and your child to learn about their overall medical history and discuss any concerns you may have about their oral development. We want your child to have an opportunity to enjoy our playroom and begin to feel comfortable in our office so that they look forward to the next visit. Depending on the age of the child, we will complete the following during the first visit:
- Digital x-rays
- Dental exam
- Teeth cleaning and screenings for decay or gum disease
- Demonstration of proper brushing techniques in an age-appropriate manner
For young infants, we will gently examine any erupting teeth and provide care advice for early oral hygiene at home. Even young patients can develop tooth decay, so keeping the primary teeth clean is important. Our team will also offer advice for common childhood habits that can affect a growing smile, such as thumb sucking and baby bottle mouth.