At SmileBuilders, we know our first interaction will set the tone and form the foundation for our relationship. We want you to be comfortable and understand our approach to oral health. These first visits are especially important for children because their first impression can shape how they perceive dentistry for years to come, so we take great care to make the first visit as friendly and caring as possible.
Pediatric & General Patients
What Do You Want Your Child to Take Away from Their Dental Health Visit?
As parents, we want our children to feel safe, comfortable, and unafraid when they visit the dentist. But there’s a small problem when we focus too much on the fear element: we’re teaching them that they have a reason to be afraid.
When we tell a child not to be scared, their minds begin to examine the request in their heads, turning it in different angles, examining what it could mean, wondering why you would be telling them this in the first place. What starts as a well-intentioned sentiment can easily become another obstacle for a dentist to overcome; we call this phenomenon ‘calming a child into nervousness.’
By choosing our words carefully, we break the cycle of projecting our fears to our children. After treating countless children and helping them overcome their dental fears, we know how to speak their language and how to make them comfortable in our office. Our job is not just to provide quality dental care; it’s to create a relationship of trust and comfort.
Your Child’s Trust Starts with You
It’s true. When you trust your pediatric dentist to develop a positive association with your child, you’re telling your child that we have your full trust. That signals that it’s okay for them to trust us, too.
Our dentists believe the main variable missing from our childhood dental experiences was that positive association with the dentist. By allowing us to relate to your child ‘one-on-one,’ we can develop that trusting relationship that is vital to making your child feel safe, comfortable, and cared for.
What Can Parents Do to Make Children Trust the Dentist?
By NOT being in the treatment room with your child, you’re giving us your ‘official parent stamp of approval.’ You might not think it, but this is the most comforting statement that you could make to your child.
We always have your child’s welfare at the center of what we do. We respectfully request that parents relax (yes, you can do it!) in the waiting room during your child’s hygiene and operative procedures. Children can sense your anxiety, and it’s difficult to keep calm when your child is undergoing a procedure; by distancing that distress from the room, we can ensure a much more comforting environment.
We never forget that your feelings and your comfort need to be addressed. So please remember: if it concerns you, it concerns us. We always go at your child’s pace. If he or she isn’t ready, it’s okay! Your child will NEVER be forced to undergo any treatment or procedure. It’s all about trust before treatment at Smile Builders.
Orthodontic Patient
We Are with You Every Step of the Way
While we do welcome exclusive orthodontic patients, many of our orthodontic patients started as pediatric patients who graduated at their own pace, based on our expert evaluation. As board-certified orthodontists, we offer the very latest in orthodontic procedures and treatments designed with the individual needs of every patient in mind, regardless of their age.
We proudly offer a progressive series of virtually clear removable aligners designed to straighten teeth and perfect smiles. Metal and ceramic braces are recommended for more complex cases and where compliance may be a factor. We also utilize orthodontic treatments that combine state-of-the-art technology such as 3-D digital imagery and proprietary software to provide an accurate and effective treatment plan especially designed for YOUR teeth.
Once we determine your treatment plan, we use advanced technology and partnered laboratories to formulate a procedure based on our prescriptions.
From Prevention to Corrections
We offer many progressive treatments for patients 7 to 11 years of age that provide significant benefits, especially to patients with jaw irregularities. These treatments may also prevent certain conditions from worsening or arising in the first place.
Treating children during the most important developmental years allows our practice to achieve results that may not be possible when the face and jawbones have fully developed. This early treatment can simplify or eliminate future additional treatment for the child.
A Treatment for Every Patient
Since we specialize in both pediatric dentistry and orthodontics, families find it very convenient to schedule orthodontic check-ups to coincide with pediatric visits. Everyone in the family can receive treatment with one trip to SmileBuilders. It’s one of the many benefits of having a dual specialist on your side!