It's Not a Dental House. It's a Dental Home.
Credit: Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture
February is National Children's Dental Health Month, which means it's a better time than ever to establish a dental home for your kids. What exactly is a dental home? We're so glad you asked.
The Dental Home
When you visit Good Life Smiles the first time, you establish a dental home for your child. A dental home constitutes the ongoing relationship between the patient, their grown-up, and a pediatric dentist. The dental home provides preventive services and education, necessary dental treatment, and is the first point of contact for dental emergencies.
So when is the best time to establish a dental home?
Everyone By Age 1 (...or sooner!)
Dr. Pete recommends that kids come in for their first dental visit by their first birthday (or within 6 months of their first tooth coming in). Especially during a pandemic, it's important to schedule a child's first visit as soon as those first baby teeth start to come in.
Aside from teaching important skills and healthy habits to prevent cavities, pediatric dentists provide emergency services for their patients. Having a dental home keeps kids out of the emergency room in case of a hurting tooth or dental injury!
Dr. Pete provides emergency call 24/7 for all active patients who call Good Life Smiles their dental home. This means your child must have had at least one visit with Dr. Pete before he can offer any advice or see your child after hours.
What Does the First Visit Look Like?
Like this!
Kids under age 3 generally feel safer on their grown-up's lap, so that's where your kid is going to sit for their first visit! We call it a lap exam, because your child will sit on your lap and lay his or her head back into Dr. Pete's lap (on a padded board that looks kind of like a changing table).
Your child's legs will be wrapped around your waist, and you'll hold your child's hands by their belly to provide safety and comfort.
Dr. Pete will gently cradle your child's head, brush the teeth, and perform an exam with a mirror (and maybe a tooth counter).
Don't worry if your kid wiggles or fusses during the first visit or two. Stranger danger is real for babies and toddlers (even though Dr. Pete is really nice).