The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends your child’s first exam by one year of age.  Establishing a “Dental Home” means your child’s oral health care is delivered with a comprehensive, continuously accessible, coordinated and family-centered approach.  We can check for proper oral and facial development to determine whether teeth are growing in properly and detect early signs of tooth decay.  We guide parents in proper home care, diet and nutrition, and help determine if your child is at risk for Early Childhood Cavities (ECC).

The Dental Home is intended to
provide a place other than the
Emergency Room for parents. 

Children over three years of age are scheduled for their first dental cleaning with one of our experienced Dental Hygienists.  We gladly invite parents to accompany their children to the treatment area during their first visit to our office.  However, for future appointments we ask your help in obtaining your child’s trust by allowing them to enjoy their dental adventure with our staff.  Although every child is different, we have found that most do fine knowing their parents are in the waiting room or other location designated by our staff.  It’s helpful for parents to assume a “silent observer” role as children have a difficult time listening to more than one adult.  Our goal is to gain your child’s confidence and help them achieve a positive attitude toward dentistry for life!

For the safety and privacy of all patients, other children who are not being treated should remain in the reception room with a supervising adult.

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

If you are visiting our office for the first time as an orthodontic patient, Dr. Plunk will evaluate your child's readiness for treatment. If needed, a screening film (panoramic x-ray) will be taken at no additional charge. Taken at strategic times, this film provides Dr. Plunk with valuable information on growth, development, and the timing of necessary orthodontic treatment. If your child's current dentist has a panoramic x-ray on file, please bring a copy with you or our staff will be happy to request it for you.

We may recommend monitoring your child's growth and development over a period of months or even years before treatment starts. If treatment is needed, Dr. Plunk will order further diagnostic records that allow him to individualize treatment for your child. In some instances, our schedule may allow for records to be taken the same day as the initial examination. A formal consultation will be scheduled at 7:30 AM or 5:00 PM approximately one week after records are taken at which time Dr. Plunk will discuss treatment options. Each case is different and the fee is determined by the complexity and amount of time needed to treat your child. Our goal is to provide you with all the information needed to make an informed decision about your child's orthodontic care.

We appreciate the opportunity to help your family achieve a lifetime of beautiful smiles. Back to Top

For your convenience prior to visiting our office, please click the button below to access your new patient forms, complete the information and bring it with you to your first visit.

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