Help your child feel ready
A little prep at home goes a long way. Two simple things that make a big difference.
Your child's visit, step by step
From the waiting room to waving goodbye, here's how we make it easy.
- A warm welcome in the waiting room
Our dental assistant comes out personally to greet your child and walk you both to the treatment room together.
- Your child picks a show
We let kids choose their own Netflix show because a distracted kid is a relaxed kid.
- Meet the tools (with fun names)
Before anything happens, the assistant shows your child the instruments, the teeth tickler, the slurpy straw, and special vitamins for their teeth. No surprises.
- Parent time with the doctor
You'll chat with the doctor about diet, nutrition, and building good oral hygiene habits at home.
- Cleaning, fluoride & x-rays
A professional cleaning and fluoride treatment follow. X-rays are taken only when needed.
We'll guide you through it
If your child needs a filling or extraction, please don't use words like "shot", "needle", or "hurt". Let our team handle the explanation. We're trained to talk about procedures in ways that keep kids calm and cooperative.
What to bring
- ID
- Insurance card(s)
- Completed new-patient forms
The Knee-to-Knee Exam
For children under age 3, we use a gentle knee-to-knee exam that keeps you close and helps your child feel safe throughout the visit. Most young children aren’t comfortable sitting in the dental chair alone, so this approach allows us to examine them while you stay involved every step of the way.
See how the knee-to-knee exam works in practice:
Here’s what you can expect during the exam:
- You sit with your child
You’ll sit sideways in the dental chair and place your child in your lap facing you, with their legs gently wrapped around your waist.
- Our dentist sits facing you
Our dentist will sit facing you in a knee-to-knee position, and you’ll slowly lower your child into their lap while staying close and supportive.
- Your child is gently lowered into the dentist’s lap
You’ll slowly guide your child’s head into the dentist’s lap while keeping hold of their hands. You remain in full contact throughout.
- A gentle exam begins
With your child’s head gently stabilized, the dentist can perform a thorough oral evaluation. Your child may cry. This is normal and expected. Crying doesn't mean pain; in fact, it actually helps open the mouth for a better view.
What Our Dentists Evaluate During the Exam:
- Overall growth and development of the jawbones and oral structures
- Extra-oral structures/exam (the structures and tissues outside of the mouth)
- Intra-oral structures/exam (the tissues of the mouth, the gums, the teeth)
- Oral hygiene (presence of plaque)
- Cavities
- Areas of decalcification
