We are honored that you are considering our practice to provide dental care for your child. Entrusting your child to our care is a privilege we eagerly anticipate and a responsibility by which we are humbled. We look forward to meeting you and your child in our office soon and officially welcoming you to our practice.

Whether this is your child's first visit to a dentist or this is your first visit in our office, it is important that your child feel comfortable and begin developing a trusting rapport with the Doctor and staff.

The first visit is designed to gain your child's confidence and trust. Each child is unique; we understand their curiosity and apprehension and give each patient individualized attention. Everything is carefully explained and each child participates in activities designed to help build their self-confidence. One of our highly trained staff will guide your child throughout this introduction.

During this appointment we spend time with you and your child on toothbrushing and reviewing food choices that help fight tooth decay. We also review the child's medical and dental history, take any necessary x-rays, perform a cleaning and fluoride treatment, and discuss your child's present dental needs along with any recommended treatment.


When should I schedule my child's first appointment?  The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that your child visit the dentist by his or her 1st birthday. Beginning dental care at an early age is important for a number of reasons. Many parents of infants and toddlers are not confident they are caring for their child’s teeth properly and can benefit greatly from the instruction we offer. Early visits provide opportunities to address other preventive issues that are vital to healthy teeth and a pleasing smile. Dental visits that are scheduled before problems develop can be kept short and help the child become relaxed in the dental environment more quickly.


Our goal for children under 3 is to make dental visits quick and easy. Dr. Hersey will provide a thorough examination and talk with you about any issues of concern while your child plays nearby. With each subsequent visit your child will mature and confidence and trust will most likely increase. After age 3 we will begin preventive care visits which include examination, cleaning, fluoride treatment and appropriate radiographs.

You can make the first visit to the dentist enjoyable and positive. Your child should be informed of the visit and told that Dr. Hersey and his staff will explain everything and answer any questions. If you approach the visit in a casual manner the chances are much better that your child will do the same. It is best if you refrain from using words around your child that might cause unnecessary fear, such as needle, shot, pull, drill or hurt. We make a practice of using words that convey the same message, but are pleasant and non-frightening to the child.

We invite you to be present with your child during the first visit to our practice and for all preventive care appointments scheduled every six months. These visits should comprise the majority of visits to our office. During other visits which will require your child’s undivided attention our staff will accompany them to maximize the chances of a successful visit.

For your convenience prior to visiting our office, please Click here to print the New Patient Health History Form, complete the information and bring it with you to your first visit.

To print the form you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader.  If you do not have Adobe Acrobat, please click here to download it for free to your computer.