Appointments

Patients are seen by appointment only. Please call in advance so that time may be reserved for your child. We make every effort to be on time and ask that you extend the same courtesy to us.

Occasionally, a young patient may require an extraordinary amount of our time or require immediate emergency care. These situations may cause delays in our schedule, but we will always try to honor your appointment time.

All restorative appointments (fillings, extractions, space maintainers, sedations, etc.) are scheduled in the morning. These appointments are more intricate, and children tend to do much better in the morning, when they are fresh. Recall appointments are seen in the morning or afternoon.

Please know that if your child ever needs extra treatment time or emergency care, we will adjust to his/her needs even if that results in a delay for other patients i.e. on occasion we must run on “children’s time” not “adults’ time.”

We always try to make your child’s dental visits as pleasant, enjoyable and fun-filled as possible. We will provide your child with toys and games, sunglasses, stereo headphones for our extensive children’s DVD movie library, “happy air” (nitrous oxide), and, where indicated, preoperative medication for anxiety. Encourage your child to bring his/her own favorite iPod or MP3 player, games, dolls, etc., to the appointment.

New Patient Appointments

First dental visits are important information sharing sessions (not treatment appointments). We encourage that both parents be present for this first meeting with your child as we plan on providing a wealth of information about your child’s teeth, mouth and dental growth and development. We do understand that parents have busy schedules; however, we must require that at least one parent or guardian (both parents in joint custody divorces, etc.) be present for your child’s first dental visit. Grandparents, babysitters, neighbors, etc. cannot provide the appropriate medical and dental information or consents that we will require.

Parent Participation During Appointments

Parents are encouraged to be present in the treatment rooms with their child for all new patient, recall and emergency appointments. For restorative appointments (fillings, extractions, space maintainers, sedations etc.), we request that parents remain in the reception areas. The restorative appointments are planned ahead with your permission. We prefer, during these more intricate appointments, that your child’s attention be focused on the dental team.

Appointment Confirmation

As a courtesy, our staff attempts to confirm appointments two days before. However, it is your responsibility to remember and keep your child’s appointment, even if we have not been able to contact you.

Cancellation of Appointments

If you cannot keep an appointment, please notify our office by calling 785-3911. You may leave a message with our staff or record a message on our answering machine, day or night. No charge will be made for missed appointments, provided at least 24 hours prior notice is given, so that that time reserved for your child may be made available for other patients. If you have a personal emergency, please let us know as soon as possible.

Failure to keep a scheduled appointment and/or failure to appear at the scheduled appointment time inconveniences many other children and their patients. Therefore, failure to keep a scheduled appointment without 24 hours notice of cancellation may result in an office charge plus a required pretreatment reservation deposit before another appointment can be made.

Emergencies

We are here for your child, day or night, should a dental emergency arise. We have reserved a special time daily to see emergency patients. If your child has a problem requiring emergency treatment, please call as early in the day as possible. In order to maintain a reasonable schedule during the day, emergencies, except trauma, can be seen only during the time set aside for that purpose. Accidents are treated upon arrival.