Kids' Cleanings & Exams in Bethlehem, PA

A first visit built around how small children actually feel.

Kids' cleanings and exams at Always About Smiles, our Bethlehem, PA dental office, are a gentle check of the teeth and gums with a cleaning and a polish, for children from the age of two. The hygienist and I take our time, and a first visit is mostly about getting to know each other.

The visit, from their side

A cleaning visit is a look, a gentle polish and a good deal of talking. Your child sits in the chair, or on your lap if that's easier for them, and we go at whatever pace they'll give us. Our team is trained to avoid the use of threatening language, like "drills", "needles", "injections" and "bleeding". Nothing is done before they've seen what it is.

An office built for nervous visitors

Our office on Brodhead Road was built in 1988 and remodeled in 2001 with the Pride Institute, designed around people who find dentistry hard. The reception room looks like a living room, there's sound baffling in the soffits, equipment stays out of the line of sight, and you're taken straight into a treatment room. There's an arcade area for the children, which is usually the first thing they find.

Visits through the year

Most children come in twice a year, which keeps the visits familiar. Our Patient Loyalty Program covers children too, with benefits available immediately on signup and substantial savings on all their dental care.

What will happen during the first visit?

There are several goals for the first dental visit. First, Dr. Lambert and his dental hygienist, and the child need to get properly acquainted. Second, Dr. Lambert will evaluate tooth and jaw development to get an idea of the child's overall health history. Third, Dr. Lambert will evaluate the health of the existing teeth and gums. Finally, our team will answer questions and advise parents on how to implement a good oral care regimen.

How can I prepare my child for the first visit?

There are several things parents can do to make the first visit enjoyable. Bring your spouse along for the visit — sometimes infants become fussy when having their mouths examined. Having another adult along to soothe the infant allows a parent to ask questions and to attend to any advice the dentist may have.

What should I say to my child beforehand?

Keep it short and keep it positive. It is imperative for parents to use positive language when speaking about dental treatment with their child. And generally speaking, the less details you provide about their visit, the better. Explaining that the dentist "helps to keep teeth healthy" is far better than explaining that the dentist "is checking for tooth decay, and may have to drill the tooth if decay is found".

How much do kids' cleanings and exams cost in Bethlehem, PA?

You'll have the fee in writing before the visit, and for most families our Patient Loyalty Program is the simpler answer, with substantial savings on all their dental care and no yearly maximums, deductibles or copays. We're fee-for-service, we file your claim for you, we're good at it, and we'll push to get you reimbursed. Financing is available.

At what age should my child first come in?

We see children from the age of two, and there's no wrong time to start. Building a positive foundation from as early as the age of two can create a lifelong comfort and trust in receiving dental care in our office. According to AAPD (American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry) guidelines, infants should initially visit the dentist around the time of their first birthday.

I'm nervous about the dentist myself. Will my child pick that up?

You're in good company, and it's part of the reason the office was built the way it is. First visits can be stressful for parents, especially parents who have dental phobias themselves. Tell us at the desk and we'll take it from there. Plenty of parents sit in the chair with their child on their lap, and that works perfectly well.

Kids’ Cleanings and Exams at Always About Smiles

  • We see children from the age of two
  • Our team works well with children to make them feel comfortable
  • An arcade area and a living-room reception adds to their comfort
  • Our Patient Loyalty Program brings substantial savings on all their dental care

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Should I bring my other children along?

    Leave other children at home if you can. Other children can distract the parent and cause the infant to fuss. Leaving other children at home (when possible) makes the first visit less stressful for all concerned. Nobody minds at all if they do come with you.

  • Are there books that help before a first visit?

    Anxiety can be vastly reduced if the child knows what to expect. Age-appropriate books about visiting the dentist can be very helpful in making the visit seem fun. Here is a list of parent and dentist-approved books: The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist — by Stan and Jan Berenstain; Show Me Your Smile: A Visit to the Dentist — part of the "Dora the Explorer" series; Going to the Dentist — by Anne Civardi; Elmo Visits the Dentist — part of the "Sesame Street" series.

  • Do you take x-rays of children's teeth?

    When they're needed, and not as a routine at every visit. Digital x-rays use very little radiation and they show what an eye can't — a tooth arriving underneath another, or decay between two teeth that touch. I'll tell you what I'm looking for before we take one.

  • What if my child won't open their mouth?

    Then we don't make them. A visit where a child sits in the chair, meets the hygienist and goes home pleased with themselves is a good visit, and the next one goes further. We try not to push children so they end up fearful of the dentist's office.

  • Do you offer sedation for children, or tongue-tie releases?

    Neither is done in our office. Sedation for a child and tongue-tie or lip-tie releases are both referred out to someone who does that work every day, and I make the referral myself rather than hand you a phone number and leave you to it.