Like all providers, Prime Smile is under strict regulations where they can’t disclose information about their patients publicly. However, they can allow their clients to share their stories, so here I am! I have worked with Prime Smile over the last couple of years with their online marketing and was excited to bring my grandson, Niko, to Prime Smile for his first visit to the dentist. And… of course, I got his Mom’s permission to share about our trip.
What To Expect For Your First Visit
Your child’s first visit to the dentist should involve a brief examination of their teeth and mouth. The dentist or dental hygienist will likely check for any signs of tooth decay or other dental problems and clean the child’s teeth to remove any plaque or tartar. Prime Smile’s staff will also discuss proper oral hygiene habits with the child’s parents or caregivers, such as brushing and flossing, and will provide guidance on how to help the child establish good oral hygiene habits. If the team identifies any issues, they recommend further treatment or follow-up care. It is essential for parents or caregivers to be present during the visit and to ask any questions they may have about their child’s dental health.
Niko’s First Visit
We arrived a few minutes before Niko’s appointment and made ourselves comfortable in the waiting room. The East location is brand new and beautiful… and Niko was ecstatic to see that Spider-Man and Friends were playing on the overhead television. We checked in and the staff was terrific, saying hello to Niko and letting us know that we’d be in a private room as soon as the hygenist was available. The picture for this blog post is an actual photo of Niko sitting in the waiting room.
As soon as we entered the private room, Niko sat on the chair and Mom was able to sit right next to him. I really appreciated that the staff came in and spoke to Mom and got to know Niko before doing any work. I think it would have been difficult for him to adjust if a stranger had just started poking around his mouth!
The hygienist also presented each tool and let Niko see, hear, and touch them to make him feel more comfortable. He was pretty fascinated with the equipment.
This included wearing pretty cool glasses so that nothing got in Niko’s eyes.
If you have a young child, you totally know how impatient they can get sitting still. The staff took breaks between activities, talked to Niko softly, and explained each step of what they were doing to Mom. A couple of times, Niko wanted to get his hands up and touch the tools, so Mom kept his hands down and gave him some words of encouragement.
After the hygienist cleaned Niko’s teeth, the dentist also arrived to inspect his mouth, gums, and teeth. He was starting to get a bit impatient by this time, so everyone chipped in to help. At one point, the hygienist held his head while Mom held his hands, but it was just for a few moments.
She also provided Mom with some tips on cleaning his teeth, teaching Niko to clean them, and some flossing tips. We didn’t know we should already start flossing! She also let us know when his next check-up and cleaning should be scheduled.
And… of course, Niko’s favorite part of the visit. While Poppa and Mom scheduled the next appointment, Niko got to pick out a cool frog from the toy bin. I appreciated that the check-out is in a different part of the building so that there was some privacy in discussing any payments or insurance conversations.
I wanted to give a shoutout to the team at Prime Smile for their hospitality and making this such a fun visit. I’m sure it can be a scary experience for a child to visit the dentist for the first time, but the staff was exceptional making Niko (and Mom and Poppa) feel comfortable.
We can’t wait to see them next time!
