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Hours /
How are Appointments Scheduled?
For your convenience, you may call Monday through Saturday to schedule appointments. How are Appointments Scheduled?
Your cooperation in making and keeping appointments which are reserved for your child is essential. Most reasons for changing an appointment can be anticipated. Therefore, a change should be made at least 24 HOURS in advance so that the appointment time may be made available to others in need of dental care. As a courtesy, our office will attempt to contact you for confirmation 1-2 days before your appointment. However, we do ask that patients/parents assume responsibility for their appointment time.
Broken appointments or short term cancellations (within
24 hours) without proper notification can be costly and unfair to other
patients who need appointments. Repeated broken appointments of any kind may
warrant dismissal from the practice. If you are running late, please notify
us. We usually try to work any late arrivals back into our schedule when
time allows. Do I Stay with My Child During the Visit? We welcome the parents or guardian to accompany the child for the first visit. Studies and experience, however, have shown that most children over the age of 3 react more positively when permitted to experience the dental visit on their own and in an environment designed for children. We are highly experienced in helping children overcome anxiety. Separation anxiety is not uncommon in children; please try not to be concerned if your child exhibits some negative behavior. This is normal and will soon diminish.Back to Top The purpose of this visit is to evaluate periodically your child's dental health and changes which occur with growth and development. Our office will mail a postcard 2 months ahead of the month before your child's appointment should be made. We also welcome you to schedule 6 months in advance for your convenience. When calling to schedule your appointment please advise the business staff of any change in the following areas: 1) address, 2) telephone number, 3) marital status, and 4) Insurance coverage, any information that would aid in timely filing of your coverage. Any special concerns you may have regarding your child's teeth, any changes in the medical history or medications should be told to the staff member assigned to your child prior to his/her being seen. We
will visually examine the teeth and surrounding tissue to evaluate changes
in health. We will take X-Rays once a year or if necessary to check for
decay between the teeth, infection of the gums and bone and to evaluate
position and location of un-erupted teeth. The bite is evaluated for change.
If any appliances are worn they are checked for effectiveness and fit. The
teeth are cleaned and fluoride is topically applied. All pertinent
information will be discussed with the parent or guardian.
Preventive health is a family affair. Only the parents or guardian should accompany the child for the visit. Parents may accompany their child to the treatment area if they wish to do so; however, there are some guidelines to be considered: The dentist, child, and parent need to function as a team. If you are present for treatment, you should be the dentist's silent partner. You may pat your child or offer some words of support or praise, but remain calm and quiet.
By the age of four, an emotionally and physically healthy child should be able to separate from his parent for an examination and possibly treatment. However, in our office this choice is up to you. We strive to make each and every visit to our office a fun one! We make every effort to keep down the cost of dental care. You may help by paying at the time of the dental visit. If your child's treatment program requires several visits, you will be given an estimate and asked to discuss definite financial arrangements with our office business staff. We accept
cash, personal checks, debit cards, and most major credit cards. Our office, as a courtesy,
will file dental insurance benefits for you. However, at the first
Please keep us informed of any changes or updates in your insurance information. Does Your Insurance Pay for Fluoride? Our office, in accordance with the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, administers fluoride to children every 6 months since it is proven to be highly effective against tooth decay. Many insurance companies have reduced the fluoride benefit. Please contact your INSURANCE carrier for your benefits and notify our office at the time of your visit if you do not wish us to administer fluoride for that visit. Please remember that we are a third party to your insurance company and accept insurance as a courtesy to you. We can not be responsible for keeping up with the ever changing policies of each individual insurance company. We prefer to spend our time treating the children that come into our office. |
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Drs. Levitt, Appelbaum, &
Ware - Pediatric Dentists, St. Louis, MO Web Site Design By Dentists4Kids.com |
Our
office attempts to schedule appointments at your convenience and when time
is available. Preschool children should be seen in the morning because they
are fresher and we can work more slowly with the child for their comfort.
School age children with a lot of work to be done should be seen in the
morning for the same reason. Dental appointments are an excused absence.
Missing school can be kept to a minimum when regular dental care is
continued. In a practice limited to care of children, all treatment cannot
be done after school hours. Certain appointments, types of care and patients
are better managed during morning hours. We realize that occasionally this
may inconvenience some parents, but it is the child we must always consider.