Your Child’s First Visit
At Park Pediatric Dentistry, we want your child’s first dental visit to be a positive and memorable experience. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, children should see a dentist by their first birthday, or within six months of their first tooth coming in. These early visits help us monitor dental development, prevent problems before they start, and establish a foundation of trust that lasts for years to come.
What to Expect at the First Visit
Your child’s first appointment is all about comfort and education. We’ll:
- Gently examine your child’s teeth, gums, and jaw to check development
- Discuss teething, thumb-sucking, pacifier use, and other early habits
- Provide tips on brushing, nutrition, and cavity prevention at home
- Answer all your questions and guide you through what to expect as your child grows
Most importantly, we take our time to ensure your child feels safe and cared for. Our team uses a “tell-show-do” approach—explaining everything in kid-friendly terms, demonstrating, and then gently performing the exam.
Making Dental Visits Fun
We know a new environment can feel overwhelming for little ones, so we work hard to create a calm, playful atmosphere that puts children at ease. From our friendly team to our kid-centered environment, every detail is designed to make your child’s first visit (and every visit after) feel like a walk in the park.
By starting early and staying consistent with checkups, you’re giving your child the gift of a healthy, confident smile.
Post-Op Care & Instructions
Resin/Resin Crown Post-Operative Instructions
- If your child is numb, please follow the post-op instructions for numbness.
- Avoid sticky, hard candies and chewing on ice to prevent breaking the filling or crown.
- Avoid using front teeth to bite directly into hard food such as apples, carrots, and corn on the cob.
- Limit drinking or eating dark colored beverages and food, as this may cause staining and discoloration of the resin material.
- It is important to note that resin fillings are prone to recurrent decay (new decay around the filling margin), and they should be brushed and flossed like a natural tooth.
- For any discomfort, Tylenol or Ibuprofen is recommended.
Post-op Instructions for Space Maintainer
- The space maintainer that your child has had placed today is cemented onto the tooth with a dental cement that contains fluoride.
- This cement takes about 12 hours to achieve its final set. A soft diet for the rest of the day is suggested.
- Space maintainers may come off if your child eats sticky candies, chewing gum, lollipops, etc. Please avoid these as long as your child has any space maintainers on his/her teeth.
- It is not unusual for the gum tissue around the space maintainer to be red and or irritated for several days. Saltwater rinses can be used.
- Brush the area gently today; thereafter, you may resume normal brushing and flossing.
- Should a space maintainer become loose, please remove it and contact the office. This is not an emergency.
Post-op Instructions for Stainless Steel Crowns
- The crown that your child has had placed today is cemented onto the tooth with a dental cement that contains fluoride.
- This cement takes about 12 hours to achieve its final set. A soft diet for the rest of the day is suggested.
- Crowns may come off if your child eats sticky candies, chewing gum, lollipops, etc. Please avoid these as long as your child has any crowns on his/her teeth.
- It is not unusual for the gum tissue around the crown to be red and or irritated for several days. Saltwater rinses can be used.
- Brush the area gently today; thereafter, you may resume normal brushing and flossing.
- If the crown is on a baby tooth, it will fall out with the tooth when the permanent tooth is ready to erupt.
Post Extraction Instructions
- Ensure your child doesn’t bite, suck, or rub their lips together while they feel numb. Watch him/her closely until any anesthesia wears off. (at 2 hours)
- Prohibit your child from rinsing his/her mouth for several hours.
- Keep your child from drinking anything with carbonation or using a straw for the rest of the day.
- Warn your child not to put their fingers or tongue in the empty socket.
- While blood-tinged saliva is normal after an extraction, extended periods of active bleeding are not. If your child experiences sustained bleeding following an extraction, place gauze firmly over the socket and have your child bite down for 10 minutes. You can also use a wet tea bag. If this bleeding persists, call our office or proceed to the nearest emergency room.
- Ease your child’s pain by using Tylenol or any form of Motrin as directed.
Financial Info
At Park Pediatric Dentistry, we’re committed to providing high-quality pediatric dental care with transparency and professionalism. We strive to make the financial aspect of your child’s visit as straightforward as possible so you can focus on their oral health.
While we are not in-network with any insurance companies, we are happy to accept and file all dental insurance plans as a courtesy to our patients. Our knowledgeable team will help you understand your benefits, provide an estimate of coverage, and assist you through the claims process to help you make the most of your plan.
For services not covered by insurance, we provide clear, upfront cost estimates before treatment begins. Our team is always available to answer questions and ensure you feel confident about your child’s care and the associated costs.
At Park Pediatric Dentistry, we value transparency and open communication, so every family can feel informed and supported throughout their dental experience.