Changing dentists means starting a new relationship, for you and for your child. A first checkup with our team reviews teeth, gums and habits, gathers the history that matters and sets up a plan that fits your child from here.
Maybe you moved, maybe your previous dentist retired, or maybe you simply wanted a change. Whatever brought you here, a first checkup with a new team is partly an introduction. The dentist needs to learn your child's history, and your child needs to see that the new faces and new room are nothing to fear.
Gather what you can before the drive south from Erin village or Hillsburgh. The name of the previous clinic, dates of recent X-rays, past fillings or concerns, and a list of medicines are all useful. Add anything you have noticed lately, from a loose tooth to brushing struggles. Your child can bring a question, perhaps about how this office compares with the old one.
Recommendations will follow the examination and your child's stage of development, along with whatever history is available. A cleaning, fluoride, sealants or X-rays may be discussed; none is automatic. Ask what is planned, why, and how the dentist arrived at the timing for the next review.
Records may take time to arrive, so your memory and your child's are valuable. Share what you know, even if some details are fuzzy.
Mention recent adult teeth, baby teeth that have been slow to fall out, or areas a previous dentist was watching. The dentist will assess development and explain whether continued monitoring makes sense. Uneven-looking teeth alone do not prove orthodontic treatment is needed.
Share any history of sensitivity, sore chewing, food trapping or bleeding gums, and whether any of it is happening now. Current problems may warrant a focused visit rather than waiting for the general review.
Explain who brushes, which steps get skipped and whether the move or change of routine has affected things. Ask about flossing and about molars that have only recently come through. Advice will be shaped around your child's real abilities rather than what a previous clinic expected at that age.
Please provide medicines, health conditions, past injuries and sensory or support needs before the first visit. If there is pain or swelling now, mention it at booking so we can plan accordingly.
Ongoing checkups let the dentist review oral health, judge decay risk and discuss development and prevention, and a first visit sets the baseline for all of that. The interval from here will be personal. It might differ from what your previous dentist suggested, and from a sibling's schedule.
No checkup can guarantee nothing will change before the next. Its worth is in explaining what was found and how to respond. After a first visit, you should understand the plan and the reasons behind it, not only the next date.
Patient information: AAPD — continuing examinations and preventive care
Where earlier records are available, they help show whether an area has stayed stable. Ask what is now being watched and what would alter the plan. Your observations bridge any gap in records.
A new team may notice different things about brushing technique. Ask for a demonstration on the areas that are hardest now. If the routine you were given before is not working, it can be updated.
A first visit is a good time for your child to size up the new team, ask whatever is on their mind and tell us what makes appointments easier. Small choices and plain explanations help, without promises about how it will feel. Let us know what worked or did not at the old clinic.
The first appointment builds on your child's history and current needs. Ask what has been booked, and which services might be discussed once the exam is done.
We go through health, medicines, past dental care and any current symptoms. Your child can meet the team, look at a few of the instruments and ask a question. Everyone agrees on a simple way for your child to signal a pause.
The dentist examines the teeth, gums and development relevant to your child's stage. Ask which teeth are baby and which are adult, and whether anything flagged before still needs watching. If the exam is incomplete, ask how the rest will be done.
Depending on findings and available records, the dentist may suggest X-rays, cleaning, fluoride or sealants. Ask whether earlier images could be used. Each recommendation should have a reason specific to your child.
We explain any treatment needs, prevention advice and what to monitor. Ask about the recall interval and whether any concern needs its own visit. Your child can ask one final question.
An exam alone rarely needs aftercare. When something extra, such as fluoride, is done at the first visit, you will be told what to do afterward.
Ask how much help your child should still have with brushing and flossing. Independence does not always mean thoroughness, and a move or a new school year can loosen habits for a while. The team can suggest how to share the task so your child keeps some ownership.
Follow the toothpaste amount, technique and any preventive steps recommended. If something conflicts with what you were told before, ask. A clear, workable routine beats mixed messages.
Reach out about fresh pain, a swollen gum, a knock to the mouth or a tooth that looks different. Mention when it began and whether meals or sleep have been disturbed. Now that you are with us, there is no need to hold a new problem for the next scheduled visit.
Answers about records, first visits and what changes. Your child's questions are always welcome.
Call our Bronte Street practice to book a first checkup. Tell us about the previous clinic, your child's age, current symptoms and support needs so the team can prepare.
Recall intervals are individualized. If pain, swelling or an injury occurs before or after the visit, call us when it happens.
