PATIENT CENTER

You can make the first visit to the dentist enjoyable and positive. Let your child of the visit and tell them that the friendly dentist and their friendly staff will explain all procedures and answer any questions. The less you make it a big deal, the better.

Also, please try to refrain from using words around your child that might cause unnecessary fear, such as "needle", "shot", "pull", "drill" or "hurt". We make a practice of using words that convey the same message without frightening children.

We provide “Happy Visits” that allow parents to bring their child in for a pretend appointment, such as just a walk through in the office to see our team members or sitting in the dental chair which can be such a huge accomplishment for an anxious child. We encourage parents to call our office before they arrive so we can be prepared for their child’s happy visit.

Happy Visits can also be catered to children with autism. Desensitizing children and making appointments familiar may be beneficial to improving your child’s behavior. Also we welcome therapists to the appointments that may help during these Happy Visit appointments.

We know how important each milestone is for your child. We are excited to partner with families for the first steps in your child's oral health journey. Each patient visit is tailored to meet the specific needs of your family. We strive to provide exceptional quality of care from our team of trusted experts.

Dr. Horton has received numerous academic and clinical excellence awards and has been recognized, most notably, for the John Meador Sneed Award for “A Genuine Love and Concern for Others: A Talent for Practical Accomplishment.” Her research project titled “Speech Changes Following Premature Extractions of Primary Incisors” was selected for publication in the July/August 2012 Pediatric Dentistry Journal, vol. 34, no.4, page 295.

If your child is over the age of 4, we ask that you allow them to accompany our staff through the dental experience while you wait in the reception area. Our experience has shown that most children over the age of 4 react more positively when permitted to experience the dental visit on their own and in an environment designed for children.

Our goal is to gain your child's confidence and overcome apprehension, and we can usually establish a closer relationship with your child when you are not present. However, you are more than welcome to accompany your child to the treatment room. For the safety and privacy of all patients, other children who are not being treated should remain in the reception area with a supervising adult.

Separation anxiety is not uncommon in children, so please try not to be concerned if your child exhibits some negative behavior. This is normal and will soon diminish. We are all specifically trained in helping young children overcome anxiety.