Your First Visit | Shoal Creek Pediatric Dentistry

Dr. Scott Thomas, DDS

Barry Pointe Medical Plaza
9051 N.E. 81st Terrace, Suite 220
Kansas City, MO 64158
Tel: 816-781-KIDS (781-5437)

Your First Visit

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend regular dental visits for children at one year of age. These visits are for educational and instructional purposes regarding oral hygiene, feeding issues, and fluoride use.

If this is your child's first trip to the dentist, you as a parent will play a large role in preparing your child for this visit. Children have a natural curiosity and are very observant, and they will pick up on any nervous or anxious behavior on the part of the parent. If you are relaxed and positive about this experience, it will help them be positive as well.

You can help to make their first trip to the dentist an enjoyable one by using positive language around your child when discussing his first visit. Children's books and videos are also available at most book stores to help make your child's first visit a fun adventure.

You may choose whether or not you accompany your child to the exam chair. Although we sense that some children do better without parents present, we are open to having you with your child. If you choose to be present, please follow our Parent Guidelines. These guidelines are set by our office to improve the chance of a positive experience.

We are selective in our use of words during your child's treatment. Our team members avoid using words that may scare your child. Please be supportive by NOT USING negative words. Our intention is not to "fool" your child, but rather to create an experience that is positive. Below are examples of the choice of words we prefer to use in our office.

Instead Of	Please Use
Needle or Shot	Sleepy Juice
Drill	Whistle
Pull or Yank a Tooth	Wiggle a Tooth Out
Decay or Cavity	Sugar Bug
Drill on a Tooth	Wash a Tooth
Examination	Count the Teeth
Tooth Cleaning	Tickle the Tooth
Explorer	Tooth Counter
Rubber Dam	Raincoat
Suction	Mr. Slurpy

During the first visit Dr. Thomas will review your child's medical and dental history and perform an initial examination, which includes "counting his teeth." After a comprehensive oral examination, any dental findings will be directly discussed with you. Dental X-rays (pictures) are taken, if necessary, to ensure a thorough examination followed by oral hygiene instructions to emphasize proper oral health care.

If your child is three or older, a cleaning and polishing of his teeth will usually follow along with fluoride application. For optimal communication, we will explain each of our procedures in terms your child can understand. We want to make your child's first appointment a positive experience in order to set the tone for future appointments. If any dental findings indicate preventative or restorative treatment, subsequent appointments will need to be scheduled.

It is always better to make a first dental appointment before your child has a dental problem. By starting an early prevention program, future dental problems can be avoided. Often, if tooth decay is detected early enough, there are therapies available that can be used to reverse or minimize their growth. Furthermore, by introducing your child when little dental treatment is needed, he becomes a better patient with a more positive attitude about dentistry.

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