Preparing Your Child

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a child’s first visit to the dentist should be by age one or within six months of the eruption of the first tooth, whichever comes first. A Child needs to develop a dental home as early as possible. There are many important reasons for the dental home concept:

New Patient Forms

Prior to your child’s appointment, we ask that you download and print the New Patient Packet to complete all required forms.

1. Primarily, we like to sit down with the parent and have an in-depth discussion about oral health and disease prevention including oral hygiene, diet counseling, oral habits, fluoride, dental trauma, and dental growth and development.

1. We also want to do a comprehensive exam to ensure your child’s oral cavity is healthy and free of any infections, congenital anomalies, or other defects/pathology. Research as shown that children seen by a dentist routinely at a very young age are at a greatly reduced risk for developing dental decay. Also, if we are able to identify decay at the very beginning of its formation we can discuss ways of preventing it from progressing so we may never have to treat it.

1. Lastly, we like to see children on a routine basis from a very young age to develop a positive, healthy, and trusting relationship with them. Children who visit the dentist on a routine basis are much more likely to cooperate for an exam and radiographs by age 3 than those who do not.

Tell your child that the dentist is a friendly doctor who will help your child stay healthy. Talk about the visit in a POSITIVE, matter-of-fact way, as you would about any important new experience. The less said concerning the visit, the better. A visit to the office can be a very pleasant adventure for both you and your child.

What To Expect On Your First Visit

On the first visit, your child will be introduced to our dental team. Your child will be shown all the instruments the Doctor will use on the first visit, i.e., the tooth counter, the tooth mirror, etc. You and your child will also learn the importance of preventive home care skills to help your child’s teeth stay healthy and strong.

For children ages 3+, radiographs may be taken on an individual basis, and a comprehensive exam and cleaning will be completed at the child’s pace. Orthodontic evaluations are also completed at every visit.

For children less than 3 years old, radiographs are not usually taken. These visits consist primarily of parental interview, dietary counseling, oral hygiene instruction, and habit cessation. The cleaning and exam usually are completed by a “lap exam,” whereby the child is laid down on the lap of the parent, with the child’s legs around the parents waist and the child’s head is placed on the dentist’s lap. In this positioning, the dentist will be able to complete a cleaning and thorough examination. Many young children fuss during this part, even though nothing is being done to hurt them. Dr. Dave will continually reassure the child, and sometimes sing to try to put them at ease.

...At Your Child's Pace

We want our patients to leave our office with a smile on their face. Pleasant visits help a child establish trust and confidence that will last a lifetime. Additional treatment, if required, will be discussed and scheduled for a future date.

It is our goal to develop a close and direct rapport with your child in order to gain his or her trust quickly. We have found that children respond more positively when they are allowed to be independent.

Please do not be upset if your child cries. Children are often afraid of anything new and strange, and crying is the normal reaction to fear. A parent’s positive and encouraging words following the visit, such as “You were very brave today’, “Isn’t it easy to have your teeth counted”, etc., will help your child for their following visits.

We strive to make each and every visit to our office a fun one!

Appointment Policies

The office attempts to schedule appointments at your convenience and when time is available. Preschool children should be seen in the morning because they are fresher and we can work more slowly with the child for their comfort. School children with a lot of work to be done should be seen in the morning for the same reason. Dental appointments are an excused absence. Missing school can be kept to a minimum when regular dental care is continued. Since appointed times are reserved exclusively for each patient we ask that you please notify our office 24 hours in advance of your scheduled appointment time if you are unable to keep your appointment. Another patient who needs our care could be scheduled if we have sufficient time to notify them. We realize that unexpected things can happen, but we ask for your assistance in this regard. We strive to see all patients on time for their scheduled appointment. There are times when our schedule is delayed in order to accommodate an injured child or an emergency. Please accept our apology in advance should this occur during your appointment. We will do the exact same if your child is in need of emergency treatment.

Please plan to arrive at least 10 minutes before your scheduled appointment.
This will allow time to complete any additional paperwork and see your child on time.
If you arrive 10-15 minutes late for your appointment, you may be asked to reschedule for the next available appointment time.
Broken or missed appointments affect many people. If two (2) broken/missed appointments occur or two (2) cancellations without 24-hour notice, our office reserves the right to not schedule any subsequent appointments.
A parent or legal guardian (with official documentation) must be present during the initial examination and any restorative appointments.

If at any time you have questions, please feel free to ask our staff or call our office. We are here to help in any way we can. We appreciate you entrusting your child’s dental health to us.

Financial Options

We are committed to treating you as a complete individual, working with you to develop a plan that includes your total health. We are committed to our friends and family in Creekside, Tomball, Spring, and The Woodlands and believe our practice shares an integral role in building our community.

Insurance

It’s important for you, the patient, to understand how your dental insurance works, what it covers and what it does not.

We file insurance as a courtesy to our patients. All insurance plans that allow a choice of dental provider are accepted. We provide an estimate, based upon the insurance company’s information.

Payment Options

We accept all major credit cards, checks, and cash. Payment arrangements are discussed on a case-by-case basis.

Membership Plan

At Creekside Pediatric Dentistry we understand the importance of access to quality and affordable dental care. Our in-house membership plan can help make your dental visits more affordable so that your family has access to the quality dental care you want and need. The Creekside Pediatric Dentistry Membership is not dental insurance, though it does provide you and your family with significant savings each time you visit our practice.

Annual Membership Fees

$300 per child

What's Included?

✔ Routine cleanings (2 per year)
✔ Routine oral exams (2 per year)
✔ Bitewing x-rays (2 per year)
✔ Fluoride Treatment (2 per year)
✔ 1 emergency exam (if needed)

✔ 10% off all other services as needed
✔ No deductibles
✔ No annual maximums
✔ No waiting period

Call us (713) 944-4199 or send us a message today for more information.

First Visit Pointers

Do

✔ Try to make early appointments that don’t conflict with nap or mealtime…young children do best when they are rested.
✔ The best time for a young child’s dental visit is in the morning. Early dental experiences will set the tone for how your child will forever view their trips to the dentist. Make these visits a priority. Missing a small amount of preschool can lead to a lifetime of anxiety-free dental visits for your child.
✔ Set a good example by letting your child see you brush and floss regularly.

Do Not

❌Do not let the child know that you have any anxiety about going to the dentist.

❌Do not threaten a dental visit as a means of punishment. Do not let anyone tell your child scary stories about a dental visit.

❌Do not bribe your child into going to the dentist. Promising a special gift tends to make children suspicious. Offering a reward indicates that there is something to fear.

❌Do not come for a visit when your child is not feeling well. They will be miserable and not have a very good experience and they will infect other children in the practice.

❌A parent or legal guardian is required to be present on the day of your child’s first dental visit. We cannot begin your child’s visit without accompaniment by either a parent or legal guardian

25760 Kuykendahl Rd. Ste A,
Tomball, TX 77375
(713) 944-4199

Hours:
M-Th – 8 AM – 6 PM
Friday – closed (emergencies and by appointment only)