Parents Center

Welcome to the Patient Center for Ponte Vedra Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics.

Here you’ll find everything you need to feel prepared and confident about your child’s visit—what to expect, what to bring, insurance and financing information, and answers to common questions from parents just like you.

Request Appointment

Patient Portal

Our patient portal is a secure way for you to complete all the necessary new patient forms prior to your visit.

Please fill them out via the portal or feel free to download and print the forms so that you can bring them with you to your child’s first appointment. This speeds up our process and allows for us to keep on schedule. We want our patients to experience the best customer service we can offer and that includes being on time.

Minnor Health Care Surrogate Designation

What to Expect at Your Child’s First Visit

Our goal is to meet your child exactly where they are—whether that’s excited, curious, shy, or nervous—and make this first experience a truly positive foundation for all future visits.

We know a first visit can feel like a big step—for both children and parents. Maybe it’s your child’s very first time at the dentist, or maybe you’re starting fresh with a new office. Either way, our goal is to make the experience relaxed, predictable, and genuinely positive, so your child leaves feeling proud and you leave feeling reassured.

Before You Arrive

A little preparation can go a long way in making the day smoother for everyone. If possible, we recommend:

Completing new patient forms ahead of time
Bringing a list of medications, allergies, and medical conditions
Letting us know in advance about sensory sensitivities, special needs, or medical complexities
If your child is sensitive to sound, light, texture, certain words, or transitions, we want to know. The more we understand ahead of time, the better we can adjust the environment, pace, and approach to set them up for success.

You’re welcome to keep it simple and positive when explaining the visit to your child. For example, you might say:

“We’re going to see a kid’s dentist. They’ll count your teeth, look at your smile, and show you some special tools that help keep your teeth strong and healthy.”

There’s no need to mention shots, drilling, or anything that might create worry—especially if it’s unlikely to happen. Our team is very intentional about the words we use with children, and we’ll guide the conversation in a way that feels safe and age-appropriate.

You can also:

Bring a favorite stuffed animal or comfort item
Show them pictures of the office (if you have them from the website or social media)
Plan a small, fun activity afterward so the visit feels like part of a special day

When You Check In

When you arrive, you’ll be greeted by our front desk team and welcomed into a space designed to help kids (and parents) feel at ease from the very beginning. Check-in is intentionally simple and low-stress, so your child has time to get comfortable and look around.

We’ll ask you to:

Confirm your contact information and insurance details
Share any recent changes in your child’s health or medications
Let us know how your child is feeling about the visit today

While you take care of the quick paperwork, we do everything we can to disarm any worries or fears your child might have. Our waiting area is kid-friendly, with items like games, iPads, books, and activities to keep little minds busy and help them settle in. Often, a few minutes of play is all it takes for children to relax and feel more at home.

We do our best to stay on time, but we also give each child the space they need. If your child needs a few extra minutes to warm up, that’s perfectly okay—we’re happy to go at their pace.

During the Appointment

For most first visits, you can expect a visit that is both thorough and gentle, tailored to your child’s age, comfort level, and needs. In many cases, a new patient visit will include:

A comprehensive exam to check teeth, gums, bite, and oral development
A gentle prophy (cleaning) to remove plaque and polish the teeth
Fluoride treatment to help strengthen and protect the enamel
Dental X-rays, when appropriate, such as:
- 2 bitewings (BWs) to check for cavities between the teeth
- Maxillary and mandibular anterior periapicals (Max/Mand Ant PAs) to evaluate the front teeth and surrounding bone

Throughout the visit, our doctors and team use simple, reassuring language and take time to show children what we’re doing in a way they can understand. We may let them:

See and touch certain instruments first
“Practice” opening and closing
Count teeth together
Take breaks if needed

If your child is very nervous, sensory-sensitive, or simply not ready for everything at once, the first visit may be more of a “get to know us” visit. That might mean we focus on a gentle exam, a ride in the chair, or just a quick look and some positive experiences. That’s okay—and completely normal. Building trust is more important than getting every single step done in one day. Our goal is always to move at your child’s pace so future visits feel easier and more familiar.

After the Visit

Before you head out, we’ll take a few minutes to go over everything together so you leave feeling clear and confident about what comes next.

We’ll review:

What we saw during the exam
We’ll explain our findings in simple, parent-friendly language—how your child’s teeth, gums, and bite are developing and whether everything looks on track for their age.
Any areas to watch or treat
If we see early signs of cavities, crowding, habits (like thumb-sucking), or development we want to keep an eye on, we’ll point those out and explain what they might mean now and in the future.
Age-appropriate home care tips
We’ll share realistic brushing, flossing, and diet tips that fit your child’s age and temperament—nothing overly complicated.
When to schedule the next visit

If treatment is needed, we’ll:

Explain what the treatment is, why it’s recommended, and what happens during the visit
Talk through timing—what’s urgent, what can wait, and what can be monitored
Provide a clear estimate of costs and insurance coverage, as best as we can based on your plan
Answer any questions you have about comfort, numbing, behavior support, or scheduling

You’ll never be rushed into a decision. Our goal is for you to leave with a solid understanding of your child’s oral health, a plan that feels good for your family, and the reassurance that we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Fun Learning Resources for Home & Classroom

Healthy habits stick best when learning feels fun. That’s why we’ve created simple, printable resources for parents, teachers, and caregivers to help kids build confidence with brushing, routines, and dental care — both at home and in the classroom.

These activities are designed to make oral health feel approachable, positive, and age-appropriate while reinforcing the same habits we teach in the office.

Available resources include:

Color My Tooth Pages – Let kids decorate their own healthy smiles while learning tooth anatomy.
Morning & Evening Brushing Charts – Fun tracking sheets to build consistent routines.
How to Brush in Order – Step-by-step visuals showing the correct brushing sequence.
Floss Like a Pro Guide – Simple, kid-friendly flossing instructions.
Healthy vs. Cavity Bugs – Coloring and sorting activities that teach cause and effect.
Teacher Classroom Packs – Easy dental lesson helpers for schools and homeschool families.

Our goal is to support families and educators in creating positive dental habits long before kids ever sit in a dental chair. Because confident brushers today become healthier smiles tomorrow.

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