Pediatric Dentistry: First Visit
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends the first dental visit around age 1 and every six months thereafter. During that initial visit, we will educate you about the proper infant oral hygiene, answer any questions, conduct your baby’s first oral exam, and – on a case-by-case basis – we will clean your baby’s teeth and apply topical fluoride.

In preparing for your child’s first dental visit, we recommend that parents should always be relaxed and show a comfortable attitude toward dental care. An anxious parent will, in turn, make an anxious and worried child. Please avoid using such words as “pain,” “hurt,” etc. Easy and supportive phrases will emphasize that going to the dentists will be a nice and caring experience.

We always emphasize a “TELL, SHOW and DO” approach for all procedures and have found that children do extremely well in this supportive environment. It is our goal to explain all our procedures to each and every child, according to his or her own age, and we will make sure to use the most positive and non-frightening phrases and words.

Orthodontic: First Visit
Your initial appointment with Dr. Carter will consist of a thorough examination and a discussion of potential treatment options. This important 30-minute visit will give us insight into your orthodontic needs. We know your time is valuable, so to expedite treatment, we may also reserve time following the exam for diagnostic records. The records include X-rays, photos and impressions for study models and are necessary for developing the appropriate treatment plan. This additional appointment will last approximately one hour.

During the initial examination for each patient, we will address the following questions that cover the basics of orthodontic treatment. We encourage you to ask questions as well.

• Is there a condition that orthodontics can address?
• Is treatment needed now or should treatment be delayed until appropriate growth, tooth eruption or other factors have occurred?
• What treatment procedures will be used to correct the problem?
• Do any permanent teeth need to be removed?
• How long will treatment take?
• How much will it cost?
• What are my payment options?

While we can often answer these general questions about treatment during the initial examination, we will address specific areas after careful analysis of the diagnostic records. We feel it is important to analyze each patient's specific needs, because in-depth planning leads to superior results and higher patient satisfaction.

We will then schedule a consultation visit to discuss treatment options, time frames and financial arrangements. We insist that our patients leave the office with a clear understanding of their specific needs, what the treatment will consist of and how long it will take. Also, we will answer any additional questions.

Please assist us by providing the following information at the time of your first visit:

Any panoramic X-ray taken within the past six months.

Child New Patient form		Adult Orthodontic New Patient Form