
Ask the Dentist
Children's Dentist Q&A
Of course! Not only do we allow parents to stay with their kids during exams and most treatments, we encourage it. We have found that having a parent stay with their child lessens the anxiety for both the child, as well as the parent. Younger patients will often lay in their parent's lap during the exam to provide the most soothing experience.
Also, by being with your child during their dental appointment allows the dentist and parent to discuss their child's dental health and provide realtime feedback and tips.
The only exception is during General Anesthesia. Parents are able to be with their child when they fall asleep and wake up, but not during treatment. The treatment room is small and with the dentist, dental assistant and the anesthesiologist, the room is just too crowded to provide the safest environment for your child. During this time, you are asked to wait in the lobby. The office staff will bring you updates during treatment.
Please note, current COVID restrictions may limit to one parent per child. Our policies will update to reflect current CDC and ADA guidelines.
If your child is scheduled for a moderate (conscious) sedation or general anesthesia appointment they must fast prior to the appointment according to these guidelines:
- They may have a full meal up to 8 hours prior to the procedure.
- They may have non-human milk, formula or a light meal (such as toast) up to 6 hours prior to the procedure.
- They may have breastmilk up to 4 hours prior to the procedure.
- They may have clear liquids (liquids you can see through) up to 2 hours prior to the procedure.
When your child is ready for this transition, we recommend you continue to supervise their oral hygiene. After nighttime brushing and flossing, only allow your child to have water before bed. Never allow your child to sleep with juice or milk overnight. Frequent sipping on sweet drinks (juice, soda, sports drinks) can increase your risk of getting cavities. Try to limit these types of beverages as much as possible. Drinking water with meals or after snacks helps wash off the food and sugars from teeth and is especially important if your child is drinking sugary beverages.