Parents are welcome in the treatment room with their child.

We usually recommend that you bring your child in for his first check up around age three, or when he can sit somewhat still for 20 minutes while we show him all our strange world stuff. Often girls are attentive before boys by as much as 9-12 months.

Sometimes a child may tag along with a parent for a dental check up. We believe in the "TELL, SHOW and DO" approach with kids. Parents are welcome in the treatment rooms with us. We have lots of fun with the kids! We are not going to bully any little person against his will, but we do encourage his participation. Often on those first visits Hector, my 27 year-old puppet dragon, will pay a visit from behind the chair for a little humor and ice breaking if needed. I have had young teens request Hector to come visit them again!

During a child's first visit we count his teeth, have big "Hoorays" and reward him with a prize. If the child is coping okay we will polish his teeth and introduce him to things in his mouth. The first bitewing films are taken when the child is in full cooperation. Usually we encourage six-month re-care appointments to build a routine and guard those thinly enameled baby teeth. Fluoride treatments have been vastly improved and are now well tolerated by children (and adults).