Dr. Melba Mayes, Pediatric Dentist

Important Information for New Patients

Everyone is welcome here! Parents are invited to accompany their children into the treatment areas during visits to our office, if they wish to do so.

Preparing for Your First Visit

We begin seeing children at twelve months of age, which is the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s age recommendation for your child’s first dental visit. Here are four tips to help prepare your child for their first visit:

Emphasize that good dental care is incredibly important. Tell your child that visiting the dentist will help keep their smile bright and cavity-free, and that it’s part of an overall strategy for a long and healthy life.

Be positive. Expect your child to have a pleasant experience.  Say that Dr. Mayes is very gentle with children, and likes helping them stay healthy. Reassure your child that Dr. Mayes and her staff will explain every procedure and answer all their questions in advance, so they don’t have to worry.

Be careful about your choice of words. It is best if you refrain from using words around your child that might cause unnecessary fear. For example: “needle”, “pull”, “drill” and “hurt” are all words that have negative connotations. Our office makes a practice of using words that softly convey the same message, but are pleasant and will not frighten a child. If you need help explaining anything to your child prior to the appointment, please ask our team for suggestions on the most neutral language to use.

Please complete the new patient health history form and bring it with you. This will save time, help us to better understand your child’s needs, and make your visit go more smoothly.

We look forward to seeing you in our office soon!