Along with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, we recommend that a child’s first dental visit be scheduled by his/her 1st birthday. It is very important to make the first visit as positive and enjoyable for the child as possible. We want your child to enjoy getting to know Dr. Boyd and his staff and be comfortable at all times. A pleasant, comfortable first visit builds trust and helps put the child at ease during future dental visits.
We have gone to great lengths to provide a place where children and teens will love coming to the dentist. Out facility is like no other in the state of Kentucky and surrounding states. We have toys to play and climb on that are soft and safe for children. Along with several video games and play areas we also have televisions at every chair.
The question we hear most about the first visit is, “will I be allowed to go back with my child?” Yes, we do allow 1 parent to go back with their children, if your child is more comfortable and at ease, their appointment will be more enjoyable. It also allows Dr. Boyd to communicate with you, the parent, your child’s treatment needs.
Please bring any insurance cards or forms with you to the appointment as we do accept most insurance. If you have any questions as to whether or not we take your insurance please feel free to call. We also ask that you come about 15 minutes prior to the appointment, as you will have forms to fill out. Deductibles and co-pays are collected when services are rendered and we also accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express.
First visit ages 1-4:
When children within this age range visit our office we allow them to come back and play in the treatment area to get used to the environment. We will do an exam on your child’s mouth, discuss home care with you, dietary habits and your child’s fluoride intake. Depending on what your child’s needs are we may do a cleaning and place fluoride on their teeth at this visit.
First visit ages 5-18:
When children visit our office for the first time we allow them to come back and play and get used to the office. The older kids usually play one of several video games. We will do a complete examination, which includes the teeth, gums and tongue, an oral cancer screening, TMJ evaluation and orthodontic evaluation. We will show them proper brushing techniques and how to take care of their teeth at home. We will also clean their teeth and apply professional strength fluoride. In addition to an exam and cleaning we will take any necessary x-rays so that we may determine treatment needs. At our office we use mostly digital x-rays, which use much lower levels of radiation that tradition x-rays. After the examination and x-rays, if your child requires any treatment Dr. Boyd will develop a comprehensive plan of treatment that is customized to your child’s needs. Our staff would be happy to go over any financial or insurance questions you may have.