Everything you need to know to prepare for your child's dental visit and maintain their oral health at home.
We want your child's first dental experience to be positive! Here's how to help prepare them:
Avoid using words like "hurt," "shot," or "pain." Instead, talk about how the dentist will count their teeth and make them sparkle!
There are many great children's books about visiting the dentist. Reading together can help familiarize your child with what to expect.
Practice opening wide and counting teeth at home. Let your child "examine" a stuffed animal's teeth too!
Schedule the appointment when your child is usually well-rested and happy, not during naptime or mealtimes.
Here's what a typical visit to Happy Smiles looks like:
Check in at our friendly front desk, then let your child explore our waiting room activities.
Our hygienist will greet your child by name and walk them back to our kid-friendly treatment area.
We'll count teeth, look for any concerns, and take X-rays if needed (using our "camera").
A gentle cleaning with our "tickle brush" and flavored polish to make teeth sparkle.
Every child gets to pick a prize from our treasure chest before they leave!
Proper oral care starts at home. Here are age-appropriate tips:
We believe financial concerns shouldn't stand in the way of your child's dental health.
We accept most major dental insurance plans. We'll help verify your benefits and maximize your coverage. Plans we commonly work with include:
We offer flexible payment options to make dental care accessible:
Questions about costs? We provide estimates before treatment so there are no surprises.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a first visit by age 1 or when the first tooth appears, whichever comes first.
We recommend checkups every 6 months for most children. Some children with higher risk for cavities may benefit from more frequent visits.
Yes! Digital X-rays use very low radiation and are an important tool for detecting cavities between teeth and monitoring development. We only take them when necessary.
You're not alone! Our team is specially trained to help anxious children. We use positive language, distraction techniques, and lots of patience. We never force treatment.
Absolutely! Parents are welcome in the treatment area. For some children, though, they do better without mom or dad watching. We'll work together to find what works best for your child.
We're happy to help! Reach out anytime.