The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that your child visit the dentist when the first tooth appears, or no later than his/her first birthday. Early examination and preventive care will ensure your child's dental health now and in the future. The earlier the dental visit, the better the chance of preventing dental problems. Children with healthy teeth chew food easily, learn to speak clearly, and smile with confidence. Start your children now on a lifetime of good dental habits, so they can have a bright smile!

   Pediatric dentists are trained in many methods to help children feel comfortable with dental treatment. For example, in the "Tell-Show-Do" technique, a pediatric dentist might name a dental instrument, demonstrate the instrument by using it to count your child's fingers, then apply the instrument in treatment.

   Coaching, distraction, and parent participation are other ways to give your child confidence in dentistry. By far the technique most preferred by pediatric dentists is praise. Every child does something right during a dental visit, and we don't hesitate to praise them for it.

   During the first visit, Dr. Sunny will check to make sure the proper number of teeth have erupted and will check them for cavities. He will look to see how well the teeth are being cleaned, offer cleaning suggestions if

necessary, and check to see that the child is receiving the proper amount of fluoride. After the examination, Dr. Sunny will answer any questions that you may have during the parent consultation. Then our young patients learn how to brush and floss their teeth. As a reward for a great visit, each child will get a chance to plunder the sunken treasure and take home a toy from the treasure chest.