First Visit
Preparing For Your Child's First Pediatric Dental Visit in Chicago
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that your child should visit the dentist by his or her first birthday. Your child's first visit to the dentist is very important as you, your child, and Drs. Elliot and Shah begin working together in Chicago to build healthy dental habits that will last a lifetime! Our goal is to build a trusting relationship with your child that will last for years in a comfortable environment. There are a number of things you can do to help create a positive experience.
First, let your child know that the dentist is a friend who is there to help your child take care of their teeth.
Second, explain that, during the visit, the dentist will "brush", "count", and "take pictures" of their teeth.
Finally, please refrain from using words that may cause any unnecessary fear or anxiety. The words "shot", "hurt", "needle", "pull", and "drill" do not exist in our office. We are experts on explaining dental treatment to children, and we have developed a specialized language to describe our procedures to children in non-threatening ways.
The First Visit to a Pediatric Dentist
The infant oral health exam, at the age of one, provides valuable information about how to take care of your baby's teeth, how to keep them healthy and cavity free, and how to assess normal dental development. At this first visit, we will perform an exam to evaluate your child's dental growth and development. We will complete a cleaning and topical fluoride, as individually needed. We will also review proper brushing and flossing instructions, as well as, bottle/sippy cup use, oral habits, and nutrition.
Older children will also have an enjoyable first dental visit! We will use a "Tell-Show-Do" technique to allow your child to see, touch, and understand every object he or she will come in contact with during this visit. Our staff uses age appropriate language that will help your child grasp dental concepts. Your child will have an oral exam, receive x-rays if needed, and have a dental cleaning with fluoride treatment.
We work hard to reinforce positive behaviors and create an overall fun first experience.
Parents will receive nutritional, diet, and habit counseling, as well as home care instructions customized for each child's oral hygiene needs. We will allow enough time to ensure that all concerns from both parent and child have been addressed.
Office Policies
Appointments
Children tend to do better in the dental office when they are not tired. Therefore, we encourage morning appointments, especially for preschool aged or nervous children. One of our goals is providing dentistry that is as pleasant as possible for your child, and appropriate scheduling may help us achieve this goal. Also keep in mind that a dental appointment is an excused absence from school.
When we schedule an appointment, that time is reserved solely for your child and we make every effort to see your child on time. For this reason, we ask that you arrive a few minutes before your scheduled time. If you are late, it may be necessary to reschedule your child's visit. We also require a 24-hour notice for cancellations. We need this amount of time so that we may contact a child from our waiting list to offer the appointment. If we do not receive a 24-hour notice, we reserve the right to charge your account a broken appointment fee.
Financial Policy
Payment for treatment is due at the time of service. As a courtesy to our patients, we are happy to submit insurance claims on your behalf. For your convenience, we accept payment by cash, check, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. Information on third party financing is available for extensive treatment plans.
Insurance
The insurance company you are contracted with has a relationship with you. As a courtesy to our patients, we will help you determine the coverage you have available. We accept all forms of dental insurance, and are participating providers with Delta Dental. We are happy to help with filing your claim and handling insurance questions on your behalf. However, you are responsible for monitoring the progress of payment. If you have not received payment from you insurance company one month after your visit, we recommend you call the company and inquire about the submitted claim. Please keep in mind that we do not work with or for any insurance company. Our responsibility is to you and your child, and accountability for timely payment is placed upon our patients we serve. We thank you for your understanding in this matter.