GENERAL INFORMATION
and
WELCOME!

          Dr. Crenshaw and his staff welcome you and your child to our practice.  We appreciate the opportunity to be of service to you.  Our mission is to create a place where children will have a positive dental experience and become motivated to care for their teeth so that they may have a lifetime of good oral health.  We are committed to providing the highest quality of pediatric dental care through genuine concern, clear communication, and clinical excellence.
            Realizing that our office is a new experience for both you and your child, we offer the following information.

The First Visit

            Before any work is done, you and your child will be introduced to our dental team and be allowed to see the office to allow you both to feel comfortable.  All children are different and we try very hard to gain the confidence of every child.
            Please do not be upset if your child cries.  Children are often afraid of new experiences and crying is a normal reaction to that fear.  Please permit us time to develop rapport with your child.  We will explain procedures in non-threatening terms that your child can understand.
            Depending on the need, diagnostic x-rays may be taken to determine your child’s dental condition.  During the examination of your child’s mouth, head, and neck, Dr. Crenshaw will discuss with you the results of the examination and treatment recommendations.  Depending on the level of cooperation, your child’s teeth may be cleaned and a preventive fluoride treatment given.  Additional services will scheduled for a later date.
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Scheduling Guidelines

            Your scheduled appointment is reserved specifically for your child.  Any change in this appointment affects other patients as well.  If a cancellation is unavoidable, please call the office AT LEAST 24 HOURS in advance so that we may give that time to another patient.  If one (1) appointment is missed or one (1) cancellation without 24 HOUR notice occurs, our office reserves the right to NOT schedule any subsequent appointments.  Additionally, a “broken appointment fee” of $20.00 must be paid before another appointment is given.
            We are aware of school policies that make it difficult for children to be out of school for any reason.  However, MEDICAL and DENTAL appointments are EXCUSED ABSENCES with a doctor’s note. 

• All restorative (fillings, extractions, etc.) procedures are scheduled in the morning.  Children, as well as adults, are rested and do better in the morning for these types of procedures.  “LAUGHING GAS” (Nitrous Oxide) is recommended to help children relax, however most insurances don’t cover this service and the financial responsibility will be yours.  Let us know if you don’t want this service before treatment.
• 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 dental emergency.  Please accept our apology in advance should this occur during your appointment.  We will do the same for your child should they need emergency treatment.
• Please try to arrive 10 minutes early for your appointment.  This will allow time to complete any necessary paperwork and stay on time.
• If you arrive 15 or more minutes late for your appointment it is considered broken/missed, and you may be asked to reschedule for the next available time.
• A parent or legal guardian (with official documentation) must be present for the initial exam and/or restorative appointments.  A delegate my bring the child for restorative appointments, however, documentation must be in the chart authorizing that delegate to give consent for treatment.

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Payment of Fees

            Please be aware that the parent bringing the child to our office is legally responsible for payment of all charges.  We cannot send statements to other persons.
            Payment is required at each appointment as service is rendered and can be made by cash, check, MasterCard, or Visa.  If you are unable to make payment at that time, your appointment will be rescheduled.
            For patients with dental insurance, we will accept payment for treatment directly from your insurance company.  However, we ask you to pay non-covered fees as treatment progresses.  In the event of duplicate payment you will be reimbursed.  Please bring current insurance with you at EACH appointment.  Any insurance program is between you and the carrier of the insurance.  We will be happy to assist you in filing, but the final responsibility of payment for our services is yours.
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Accidents

             Please call our office as soon as possible after the accident and we will see your child immediately if necessary.  If a baby tooth is knocked out, do not try to place it back in the socket.  If a permanent tooth is knocked out, rinse it gently but DO NOT TOUCH THE ROOT OF THE TOOTH.  Try to reinsert it in its socket.  Have the child hold the tooth in place by biting on a clean gauze or cloth.  If you cannot reinsert the tooth, place it in a cup of milk.  Time is a critical factor in the success of tooth reimplantation and we will work them into our schedule as soon as possible.
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Infection Control

            When you visit our office, you will observe the many measures practiced by Dr. Crenshaw and his staff to ensure a safe environment for treatment.  Special equipment such as ultrasonic cleaners, chemical and heat sterilization (autoclave) are used routinely.  The use of disposable instruments, materials, masks, and gloves guard against cross contamination.  Your child’s health and well being will always be a top priority in our office.  As always, we welcome your questions regarding any of our procedures, especially in the area of infection control.
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In Summary 

           Thank you for selecting our office for your child’s dental health needs.  We appreciate you entrusting your child’s dental health to us.   We hope that your and your child will find the first visit and all subsequent visits comfortable and rewarding.  The greatest compliment we can receive is the referral of family and friends.  It would be our pleasure to have them as our patients.  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.  You may also want to visit the following web sites on the internet.  They offer excellent information about your child’s dental health.

·         www.aapd.org         The American Academy of Pediatrc Dentistry

·         www.ada.org            The American Dental Association

·         www.aap.org            The American Academy of Pediatrics

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