FAQs

When should my child first see a dentist?

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Dental Association recommend the first dental visit should occur when your child has his or her first baby tooth or by their 1st birthday.

This may seem early but an early visit allows our doctors to speak to the parent and child about preventing cavities and getting the child used to their dental home. Establishing a dental home for your infant at one year of age will begin to establish a sound foundation for healthy teeth and gums that lasts them a lifetime. We require that a parent or legal guardian be present at the child’s first dental visit.

What do I do if my child has a dental emergency?

When your child needs urgent dental treatment, please contact our office at (619) 485-1200.

For detailed information, please visit our Dental Emergency Care Guidelines page.

How should I prepare my child for the first dental visit and subsequent treatment visits?

• Read books about going to visit the dentist such as “Show Me Your Smile! : A Visit to the Dentist (Dora the Explorer)” by Christine Ricci.
• Consider taking your child with you to your own dental appointment if you are not an anxious patient yourself.
• Talk about the upcoming visit in a positive, calm manner and do your best not to use words or terms that may cause anxiety.

For detailed information, please visit our First Visit page.

For detailed information about general post-operative instructions, please click here.

To find out which insurances our office accepts, please click here.

For general office information, including our location phone number, please click here.