When To Start
Since 10% of children have decay by two years and 40% by age four, it makes good sense to have early and regular dental visits beginning at 12 months of age. One baby tooth plus one dental visit equals zero cavities.

The Facts About Pediatric Dentistry
People sometimes think of children as "small adults," but nothing could be further from the truth. Children have completely different emotional and physical needs. When a child expresses fear or apprehension, it is because he truly feels threatened. By expecting your child to react to situations in a similar manner to you, you're asking him not to be a child, which really isn't fair.

This holds very true for visits to doctors and dentists' offices. A five year old walks into your family dentist's office and he sees large furniture, lots of long pointy instruments, and a rather large austere and "serious" environment. On the other hand, a pediatric dentist's office, including all the staff and the atmosphere of the office, caters specifically to the emotional and physical stage your child is in.

Inside Our Offices
As soon as you walk in the front offices of Pediatric Dentistry, our staff and office environment will put your child at ease. Our associates, hygienists and office staff are trained to work with kids, and make your child's visit to the dentist a pleasant one. The staff wears colorful coats instead of clinical white ones. Rather than overpowering "adult" chairs, children recline on small treatment pads. Kids are often treated in groups with many other children. You can also choose a private treatment room if necessary, since some kids are not as comfortable with a lot of hustle and bustle. There is a fun room with lots of books, video games, cartoons and other distractions to help put your child at ease.

The Treatment Of Your Child
We recommend that parents not accompany their kids to the treatment area since we're often treating several patients at once, and if every parent came back, it would interfere with our ability to do the best job possible. Still, it's not uncommon for smaller children, or ones on their first visit to our office, to experience some "separation anxiety" as they are being led to the treatment area.  However, if you feel that it is important to your child for you to go back, especially younger children and maybe for "first timers", we encourage your presence, but remember, it is important for the clinical staff to talk with your child to help them understand what is going to happen. But more times than not, as soon as the parent is out of sight, kids become engrossed in all the activity and visual stimulation, and before they know it, they're done and on their way home.

No matter how good you think your family dentist is, remember that your kids view the world entirely different from the way you do, and the face that has been peering into your mouth for years might just scare the heck out of your toddler. A pediatric dentist will help make a dental visit less daunting for your child, which just may encourage him to make dental care a lifelong priority.

General Office Information

Our regular office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Fridays at our Billingsley Rd., Mallard Creek Rd. and Mint Hill area/Lebanon Rd. locations by appointment.   After hours and weekends our answering service can forward emergency calls to one of our doctors for prompt attention. We respectfully request payment at the time of each visit. If lengthy treatment is necessary, we will be glad to discuss financial arrangements that meet your specific needs. Many people have dental insurance that reimburses them for some expenses. Our staff will be happy to assist you in achieving your maximum benefit.

Our offices will be closed Friday, March 21, 2008 for Easter.

 Insurance Information

Most traditional insurance plans are accepted and filed for you as a courtesy.

The American Dental Association recommends fluoride treatments twice a year for you child's teeth.  Please be aware that your insurance company may only pay for this treatment once a year.