First Visit
Open Door Policy
Dr. Buzz and his staff strive to make each dental visit pleasant for every patient. We realize that each child has different needs and anxieties, and therefore we have an OPEN DOOR POLICY. Parents are welcome to come into the treatment areas and stay with their child during the entire appointment. Parental presence can have a reassuring and calming effect on both the child and the parent. Although there are times when having the parent wait in the waiting room will help the child focus on the task at hand, we understand that usually the parent wants to be with their child. After all, our patients are your children and you know them better than we do!
Dr. Buzz, as well as the The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Dental Association (ADA), and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) all recommend establishing a "Dental Home" for your child by one year of age as long as you and your pediatrician do not have any concerns before this time. Children who have a dental home are more likely to receive appropriate preventive and routine oral health care.
You can help us make your child's first visit to the dentist enjoyable and positive by refraining from using words that might cause unnecessary fear, such as "needle", "shot", "pull", "drill" or "hurt". Our office makes a practice of using words that convey the same message, but are pleasant and non-frightening to the child.
Dr. Buzz offers a dental visit at no charge for children under 24 months called a “Happy Visit.” This is an educational visit for the parents and will introduce your child to our office. We want to educate the parents on a healthy diet, thorough home care, proper tooth development, effects of oral habits, and answer any questions. The happy visit will typically last 15-30 minutes and will include a thorough examination and demonstration of proper home care. If the child is cooperative it will also include a gentle cleaning to remove stains and build-up, flossing, and a fluoride treatment. The parent may be asked to sit in the dental chair or hold the child during this visit. Brief, successful visits are vital to build the child’s trust in Dr. Buzz and the dental staff.