Your Child's First Visit At Our Office

Please be prepared to complete all insurance and health information forms that will allow us to begin your child’s dental treatment.

The first exam lasts around 30 minutes and includes oral hygiene instructions, dietary counseling and anticipatory guidance. We will clean your child's teeth and advise you on effective cleaning methods. We then provide an evaluation with an outline of existing dental issues and propose specific treatments.

Dr. Carmichael will look at all of your child’s teeth, check the bite and how the teeth work together, and he will also look at the gums to make sure they're strong and healthy.
If Dr. Carmichael sees a problem with your child’s bite, you may be referred to an inhouse orthodontist. He specializes in correcting the shape or positions of teeth through orthodontia, or braces.

Our dental assistent will also take X-rays, or pictures of your child's teeth during the first visit. X-rays help to detect cavities hiding between the teeth and problems beneath the gums.

We will teach your child that is does not hurt to get an X-ray taken: Our dental assistant will place a thick blanket over your child’s chest to protect the body from the high-energy waves and put a piece of plastic that holds the X-ray film into your child’s mouth. We will explain to your child that he/she needs to gently bite down on the plastic.  It only  takes a few seconds of holding still, while the dental hygienist snaps the picture.

Dr. Carmichael is always open to study your child’s X-rays not only with you, but also with your child. He will encourage your child to ask questions, making sure that he explains everything your child wants to know.