First Visit
Your Family's First Visit
We believe that every child deserves a positive, fun-filled introduction to lifelong dental health. As your trusted South Bay pediatric dentist, we've created a welcoming experience where your little one will feel right at home. Rest assured our compassionate team takes the time to ease your child into a new environment, and provide personalized guidance to help establish healthy habits from the start. Here's a closer look at what you can expect at your child's first visit to Toothlings.
What to Expect
Your child’s first visit will begin with a brief office tour to familiarize your family with their new surroundings. We will introduce our friendly team, and review any pertinent history or concerns you may have.
Your child will receive a comprehensive examination with Dr. Grant, where she will thoroughly evaluate the supporting structures both inside and outside of the mouth. We will perform a cleaning, demonstrate brushing and flossing techniques, discuss dietary recommendations, assess airway health, and provide guidance on dental milestones.
We will then work with you to customize an oral hygiene and remineralization plan that’s both practical and effective, based on your child’s individual needs and risk factors.
We purposely schedule extra time at our initial visits so we can get to know you and your family, and thoroughly answer any questions you may have.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that children first visit the dentist by their first birthday or when their first tooth erupts, whichever comes first. Starting visits early allows us to assess their development and provide guidance and support for parents. Most importantly, it allows your child to become accustomed to visiting the dentist from a young age, setting them up for lifelong oral health.
After you’ve scheduled your child’s first visit, it’s important to gather some important items to ensure an easy-breezy check-in process:
- Completed new patient forms - will be automatically emailed to you after your appointment is made
- Dental insurance card
- Valid form of ID
- Your child’s favorite comfort toy or blanket
- List of any questions
Yes! In fact, we encourage parents and caregivers to participate in their child's dental visits. This helps build trust between your child and our team, creating more positive memories of their experience at Toothlings.
The Toothlings Touch
At Toothlings, we go above and beyond to ensure every child has an exceptional dental experience at every appointment.
We take the time to understand your child's unique needs and personalize their visit. From letting them pick their favorite movie and toothpaste flavor, listening to (and remembering) their preferences, to curating a treatment plan that works for your family, there’s nothing cookie-cutter about the Toothlings experience.
We care about patient confidentiality. That’s why you won't find large open rows of dental chairs here. Each family gets their own private room, allowing us to focus solely on your child's comfort and care, and keeping sensitive health discussions between you and your doctor.
With our in-ceiling TVs, magnetic play wall, toy cabinet, reading nook, and prize station, we’ve got everything to make your child’s trip to the dentist a fun and memorable experience. They’ll look forward to their visits with us!
Our team goes above and beyond to create a comfortable and safe environment for all of our patients. We offer a specially-designed sensory room for those who may need additional accommodations during their visit, and a nursery-like infant room for our littlest smiles.
Our team is highly skilled in helping more anxious or active children feel calm and confident. We also offer special desensitization visits to help apprehensive children acclimate to our office at their own speed.
How To Prepare Your Child For Their Dental Visit
Did you know that awesome appointments start at home? Here are some simple ways you can set your child up for a successful first visit:
Stay Positive
Use encouraging words when talking about the dentist. Your positive attitude will help your child feel excited and at ease!
Be Their Brushing Buddy
Make oral hygiene fun by brushing and flossing together. Crank up your child's favorite tunes and have a two-minute dance party!
Pretend Play
Play dentist with your child using their favorite toys or stuffed animals. Have fun while you practice counting their teeth and checking their smile.
Read On
Snuggle up with your little one and read a fun children's book about visiting the dentist. Look for stories with lovable characters and engaging pictures.
Take a look around
The Benefits of a
Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist
Specialized Training
Pediatric dentists complete 2 years of additional training beyond dental school to provide expert care for children's unique needs. Attaining Board-certification is an additional and voluntary step, signifying the highest level of credentialing in the field.
Kid-Friendly Expertise
Taking care of smiles can be exciting! We know how to make dental visits fun, engaging, and stress-free for children of all ages and developmental stages.
Behavior Guidance Skills
With advanced training in behavior guidance, we excel at helping anxious children or children with special health care needs feel safe and relaxed.