Practice Philosophy

Our practice is specifically geared towards taking care of the dental health of children. The two big areas that we emphasize in this practice are the prevention of oral disease before it occurs and the elimination of the fear and pain often associated with visits to the dentist.

In the area of prevention, we will stress tooth brushing instructions, diet counseling, use of fluorides, placement of sealants on the surfaces of teeth, and proper use of dental floss.

We attempt to eliminate fear and pain by making the child comfortable with the office environment and staff, keeping open a two-way communication between child and doctor including explanation of procedures to the child before they occur, using local anesthetic (Novocain, etc.) so there will be no discomfort, and using Nitrous Oxide to relax the child.

The end result, which we feel we accomplish in most cases, is a child with a healthy mouth and a good attitude toward this office and toward dentistry in general. Please be assured we always want what is best for your child.

Preparing Your Child for the First Visit

Talk to your child about the visit in a positive, matter of fact way, much as you would a trip to the grocery store. Do not let your child know that you feel any anxiety about the appointment. Do not discuss any negative medical experiences you or anyone you know has had in the past. Remember, children, especially very young children, will read your body language. Try to stay even keeled, not too excited, or negative in your discussion.

Parents in the Treatment Room

Parents are encouraged to come into the treatment area on the first visit only. This allows you to see where your child will be treated. (Exceptions are made for patients with special needs). 

If we are combining the first two visits for your child, we ask that you remain in the reception area while we do the cleaning and fluoride. Dr. Gerald Weaver, Dr. Stratton or Dr. Robert Weaver will then give you a progress report. For the remaining appointments, the parents will remain in the reception area. We have found, and studies substantiate this, that children tend to do better in the dental situation without their parents present. We ask that you allow your child to accompany our staff through the dental experience. We are all highly experienced in helping children overcome anxiety. Separation anxiety is not uncommon in children, so please try not to be concerned if your child exhibits negative behavior. This is normal and will soon diminish. Studies and experience have shown that most children over the age of three react more positively when permitted to experience the dental visit on their own and in an environment designed for children. This allows the child to concentrate solely on what the dentist says. Likewise, it allows the dentist to concentrate only on your child.

The First Visit

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association recommend that a visit to the dentist should be scheduled by the child’s first birthday. This will give the pediatric dentist an opportunity to detect any problems and treat early, as necessary, and hopefully give advice to prevent future problems. It is very important that the first visit be easy so that your child can gradually build up his confidence in coming to our office. It is at this visit that we begin to establish a rapport with your child. It is of equal importance, however, that we do accomplish something. We will examine your child’s teeth and gums to detect decay or any other problems in the mouth. This is also the time when your child’s bite, proper alignment of jaws, and spacing for permanent teeth will be evaluated. Only after a complete examination are we in a position to form a comprehensive treatment plan for your child.

The Second Visit

As on the first visit, the second visit is also relatively quick and easy. This is important in building your child’s confidence. At this visit we will discuss proper nutrition, fluoride supplementation, and oral hygiene techniques with both you and your child. Your child will also receive his/her cleaning, fluoride treatment, and -Xrays, if indicated, at this visit.

For children who are not fearful, we will usually combine the first two visits (examination, cleaning, fluoride treatment, necessary X-rays, and oral hygiene instructions) at the initial visit.

The tentative treatment plan will be presented to the parent at this second visit. This allows time for a thorough evaluation of X-rays and examination data. Exceptions to this may be extremely simple treatment plans, in which case they may be discussed at the first visit.

Primary Teeth are Important

Many times children who visit the dentist for the first time have decayed primary teeth (commonly called baby teeth). We treat decayed teeth with fillings for smaller cavities or caps for larger cavities that will not hold fillings. If the decay is deep and goes into the nerve of the tooth, we still can often save the tooth with a nerve treatment (pulpotomy).

We never want to extract a primary tooth unless it is absolutely necessary. Extraction will cause loss of chewing ability and can often make braces a necessity later in life. Many primary teeth normally remain in the child’s mouth until he/she is 12 or 13 years of age, and this is what we want to happen.

Bring your smile; but also remember to bring these things with you to your child's first appointment:

• Your completed Health History Forms
• Your insurance card

Regular checkups are an important part of maintaining your healthy smile!

The American Dental Association recommends that children visit the dentist every six months for regular checkups and routine teeth cleanings to keep their teeth and gums healthy.

We understand that your family has a busy schedule, so when you're preparing for a dental visit, please remember that an appointment can last 30-40 minutes.

When it's time for your next dental appointment, please call (904) 264-KIDS (5437), and our friendly office staff will be ready to help you schedule an appointment.