Family teaching child how to ride a bike

Sunshine Pediatric Dentistry of Evansville

First Visit with
Dr. Aditi Jindal

Your child’s first dental visit is important to form healthy habits that will last a lifetime. Sunshine Pediatric Dentistry of Evansville can help create those habits.

Book An
Appointment

Call Now
(812) 477-2836

Preparing Your Child for Their First Visit

Dr. Aditi Jindal would like to welcome you to your child’s new dental home. At Sunshine Pediatric Dentistry of Evansville, we take the time to educate you and your child about the importance dentistry plays in your life.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, The American Dental Association, and The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry all recommend establishing a “Dental Home” for your child by one year of age. Children who have a dental home are more likely to receive appropriate preventive and routine oral health care.

Tell your child that the dentist is a friendly doctor who will help your child stay healthy. Talk about the visit in a POSITIVE, matter-of-fact way, as you would about any important new experience. The less said concerning the visit, the better. A visit to the office can be a very pleasant adventure for both you and your child.

Two women holding up a sign with certain foods organized as happy or sad foods

What To Expect On Your First Visit

On your first visit to Sunshine Pediatric Dentistry of Evansville, your child will be introduced to our dental team. Your child will be shown all the instruments Dr. Jindal will use on the first visit, i.e., the tooth counter, the tooth mirror, etc. You and your child will also learn the importance of preventive home care skills to help your child’s teeth stay healthy and strong.

Dr. Aditi Jinal will then gently examine your child’s teeth, gums, and the remainder of the mouth. X-rays will only be taken if necessary and usually beginning at age 6. This will help us to detect tooth decay as well as the development of permanent teeth. Orthodontic evaluations are completed at the same time. Depending on the age of your child, thorough cleaning of the teeth and a fluoride treatment might be completed.

At Your Child’s Pace

If your child is too apprehensive, a cleaning and fluoride treatment WILL NOT be pushed! We want our patients to leave our office with a smile on their faces. Pleasant visits help a child establish trust and confidence that will last a lifetime. Additional treatment, if required, will be discussed and scheduled for a future date.

It is our goal to develop a close and direct rapport with your child in order to gain his or her trust quickly. We encourage parents to allow us to do this by remaining in the waiting area while we treat their children. We have found that children respond more positively when they are allowed to be independent.

Please do not be upset if your child cries. Children are often afraid of anything new and strange, and crying is the normal reaction to fear. A parent’s positive and encouraging words following the visit, such as “You were very brave today, “Isn’t it easy to have your teeth counted”, etc., will help your child for their following visits.

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

Dr. Jindal performing an exam on a child

Animals surrounding the text Sunshine Kid Zone

Sunshine
Dentistry Kid Zone

Come check out the kid zone for fun dental-related coloring activities and a brushing chart to track your child’s tooth brushing.

Kid Zone

Ace the skies with your visit with us

At Sunshine Pediatric Dentistry, we understand that many children (and adults!) are scared of going to the dentist. That’s why we collect a few helpful tips on your first visits with us.

Child in aviator costume with airplane wings

Ace the skies with your visit with us

At Sunshine Pediatric Dentistry, we understand that many children (and adults!) are scared of going to the dentist. That’s why we collect a few helpful tips on your first visits with us.

First Visit

Appointment Policies

The office attempts to schedule appointments at your convenience and when time is available. Preschool children should be seen in the morning because they are fresher and we can work more slowly with the child for their comfort. School children with a lot of work to be done should be seen in the morning for the same reason. Dental appointments are an excused absence. Missing school can be kept to a minimum when regular dental care is continued.

Since appointed times are reserved exclusively for each patient we ask that you please notify our office 48 hours in advance of your scheduled appointment time if you are unable to keep your appointment. Another patient who needs our care could be scheduled if we have sufficient time to notify them. We realize that unexpected things can happen, but we ask for your assistance in this regard.

We strive to see all patients on time for their scheduled appointment. There are times when our schedule is delayed in order to accommodate an injured child or an emergency. Please accept our apology in advance should this occur during your appointment. We will do the exact same if your child is in need of emergency treatment.

Arrival to your appointment

Please plan to arrive at least 10 minutes before your scheduled appointment. This will allow time to complete any additional paperwork and see your child on time. If you arrive 10-15 minutes late for your appointment, you may be asked to reschedule for the next available appointment time. Broken or missed appointments affect many people. If two (2) broken/missed appointments occur or two (2) cancellations without 24-hour notice, our office reserves the right to not schedule any subsequent appointments. A parent or legal guardian (with official documentation) must be present during the initial examination and any restorative appointments.

If at any time you have questions, please feel free to ask our staff or call our office. We are here to help in any way we can. We appreciate you entrusting your child’s dental health to us.

First Visit Pointers

Try to make early appointments that don’t conflict with nap or mealtime…young children do best when they are rested.

The best time for a young child’s dental visit is in the morning. Early dental experiences will set the tone for how your child will forever view their trips to the dentist. Make these visits a priority. Missing a small amount of preschool can lead to a lifetime of anxiety-free dental visits for your child.

Set a good example by letting your child see you brush and floss regularly.

Do Not

Do not let the child know that you have any anxiety about going to the dentist.

Do not threaten a dental visit as a means of punishment. Do not let anyone tell your child scary stories about a dental visit.

Do not bribe your child into going to the dentist. Promising a special gift tends to make children suspicious. Offering a reward indicates that there is something to fear.

Do not come for a visit when your child is not feeling well. They will be miserable and not have a very good experience and they will infect other children in the practice.

A parent or legal guardian is required to be present on the day of your child’s first dental visit. We cannot begin your child’s visit without accompaniment by either a parent or legal guardian