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Office Visits

At what age should I bring my child to the dentist?

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Dental Association recommend that a visit to the dentist should be scheduled by the child's first birthday. At this young age problems can be detected, treated early, or avoided completely. More importantly, it can help establish a positive relationship between your child and the dentist.

What will happen during my child’s first visit?

Drs. Brady and Lane will examine your child’s mouth and jaw to get an indication of how the teeth, bone, and soft tissues are forming. They will check for decay and review oral hygiene instructions, and your child’s teeth will be cleaned, fluoride applied, and x-rays taken if necessary. It is normal for a child under 3 to not feel comfortable sitting in the dental chair so our doctors may perform a knee to knee exam with the parent to provide a safe and comforting exam.We will explain any problems or concerns that exist and the dental care needed (both in our office and at home) to treat and prevent problems. We encourage you to ask questions. Your concerns are very important to us.

What do I tell my child about seeing the dentist?

You can help make the first visit to the dentist enjoyable and positive. Tell them that the dentist is a friendly doctor who will help them take care of their teeth. Don't let the child know you feel any anxiety about going to the dentist. It is best to refrain from using words around your child that might cause unnecessary fear, such as "needle", "shot", "pull", "drill" or "hurt". The office makes a practice of using the “tell-show-do” method. We will first TELL your child about a procedure, then SHOW your child how it works, feels and sounds, then, when they are comfortable, we will DO the procedure.

Late Patient Policy

Firestone Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics is happy to accommodate a late patient into the schedule if time permits. If it is an appointment for treatment, planned treatment may be modified based on the remaining time left. If a child arrives more than 10 minutes late, the appointment will be canceled or rescheduled. If your family has had two missed appointments (late, less than 24-hour notice, or a no-show), the privilege to schedule another future appointment will be lost. Your child may be seen on a same-day-only basis if the schedule permits.

Missed Appointment Policy

Due to the limited space in our schedule and the need to provide timely service to all of our patients, it is very important that you keep your scheduled appointments. It is understandable that occasionally you may need to reschedule due to an emergency or illness. However, we require a 24-hour notice so that we will have the opportunity to use your appointed time to provide treatment for others in need. If you cancel your appointment without 24-hour notice or if you are a “No-Show” for your appointment, then you will be charged a $50.00 Non-Refundable Fee.

For New Patients, if the first appointment is missed (late, less than 24-hour notice, or a no-show), the privilege to schedule another future appointment will be lost. Your child may be seen on a same-day-only basis if the schedule permits.

For Existing Patients, after there have been two missed appointments (late, less than 24-hour notice, or a no-show), the privilege to schedule another future appointment will be lost. Your child may be seen on a same-day-only basis if the schedule permits. 

If our schedule allowed a same-day appointment and your child was present, your family may schedule future appointments again. However, if there is another missed appointment, this will put you back on a same-day-only basis.

MEDICAID Missed Appointment Policy

Currently, there is an overwhelming demand for Medicaid dental services in Weld County, Colorado. At Firestone Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, we are pleased to accept Medicaid patients. However, due to the limited space in our schedule and our desire to help as many Medicaid patients as possible, it is very important that your child is present for their scheduled appointments.

Our policy is that we will schedule your child/children one time. If your child misses their appointment without 24-hour notice, we will not reschedule. If your child is scheduled for treatment at the hospital or on a general anesthesia day and you fail to keep this appointment, we will not schedule your child again. Please note your appointment that was missed will be updated on the Medicaid website.

We ask that you take great care scheduling only appointments you are sure that you can keep.