Your Child’s First Dental Visit in Long Beach, CA: What to Expect

A good first visit sets the tone for a lifetime of healthy teeth. At Salem Dentistry in Long Beach, Dr. Roxana Salem, DDS, makes your child’s first appointment gentle, unhurried, and even fun, so they look forward to coming back. Here is exactly what happens, by age, so you and your child know what to expect.

Call 562-435-8339 or book online

Why parents choose Salem Dentistry for a first visit

• The same dentist every visit. Your child sees Dr. Salem each time and builds trust with one familiar face.
• A dentist who is a parent too. Dr. Salem treats every child the way she would want her own treated.
• You stay with your child. Little ones can sit on your lap for the whole exam.
• No rushing. We go at your child’s pace, and treatment is not done at the first visit unless it’s urgent.
• Prevention first. We focus on stopping cavities before they start.
• A kid-friendly office, with toys and TVs in the waiting room.
• All PPO plans and Medi-Cal Dental accepted.
• Care in three languages: English, German, and Farsi.

When should the first visit be?

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a first dental visit by your child’s first birthday, or within six months after the first tooth appears. We welcome children from 6 months old.

Starting early lets us catch small problems before they grow, and it helps your child get used to the dentist while visits are short and easy.

First visit for children under 3

For the youngest children, the first visit is a short, gentle check-up. The main goal is to let your child get familiar with the office, the sights and sounds, and Dr. Salem herself.

• Lap exam. You sit in the dental chair with your child on your lap, facing Dr. Salem, so your child feels secure.
• A gentle look. Dr. Salem checks your child’s teeth, gums, growth, and development, and looks for early signs of cavities.
• Help for home. We show you how to clean your child’s teeth and talk about habits like thumb-sucking, pacifiers, and bottles.
• Your questions. You’ll have time to ask anything you like.

X-rays are usually not needed at this visit.

First visit for children 3 and older

At this age, most children are ready to sit in the chair on their own. If your child isn’t ready yet, they can stay on your lap until they feel comfortable.

The visit includes:

1. A complete exam of your child’s teeth, gums, bite, and development
2. A gentle cleaning
3. A fluoride treatment, if needed
4. Digital X-rays, only if needed
5. A talk with Dr. Salem about what she found, any treatment she recommends, and your questions

If your child needs treatment

If Dr. Salem finds a cavity or another problem, treatment is usually scheduled for a separate appointment, not done at the first visit, unless it’s urgent. This keeps the first visit positive and gives us time to plan the treatment in the way that’s best for your child. Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is available when a little extra help is needed.

How to prepare your child

• Choose a time of day when your child is rested, and avoid nap time
• Talk about the visit in a positive, simple way: “The dentist will count your teeth”
• Avoid words like “hurt,” “shot,” or “drill”
• Read a children’s book or play “dentist” at home beforehand
• Bring a favorite toy or blanket for comfort
• Bring your insurance card and a list of any medications your child takes

Questions parents ask

Can I stay with my child during the visit?
Yes. Parents are welcome in the room, and very young children sit on a parent’s lap for the exam.

How long does the first visit take?
About 30 minutes for children under 3, and about 45 minutes to an hour for older children who have a cleaning.

What if my child cries or won’t cooperate?
That’s completely normal, and we’re used to it. We never force a child. We go slowly, and sometimes the first visit is simply about getting comfortable.

Will my child need X-rays?
Usually not at a first visit for children under 3. For older children, we take low-radiation digital X-rays only when they’re needed.

How often should my child come in after the first visit?
Every six months, unless Dr. Salem recommends coming in more often.

Do you take my insurance?
We accept all PPO dental plans and Medi-Cal Dental. We do not accept HMO plans. Call us at 562-435-8339 and we’ll check your benefits for you.

Schedule your child’s first visit

Call Salem Dentistry at 562-435-8339 or book online today. To learn more about our care for children, including sealants, fillings, and orthodontics, see our Kids’ Dentist page. For brushing tips by age, visit our oral hygiene page.

One step for you: in the last paragraph, link the words “Kids’ Dentist page” to the other children’s page you already fixed. On that page, it’s worth adding a link back to this one from the question “What happens at a first visit?” so the two pages support each other.

Only the heading came through this time. What you pasted contains the title “Pediatric Services” but none of the text underneath it, because that title and its paragraph are two separate boxes in Elementor.

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Your Child’s First Dental Visit in Long Beach, CA: What to Expect

A good first visit sets the tone for a lifetime of healthy teeth. At Salem Dentistry in Long Beach, Dr. Roxana Salem, DDS, makes your child’s first appointment gentle, unhurried, and even fun, so they look forward to coming back. Here is exactly what happens, by age, along with the children’s services we offer.

Call 562-435-8339 or book online

Why parents choose Salem Dentistry for a first visit

• The same dentist every visit. Your child sees Dr. Salem each time and builds trust with one familiar face.
• A dentist who is a parent too. Dr. Salem treats every child the way she would want her own treated.
• You stay with your child. Little ones can sit on your lap for the whole exam.
• No rushing. We go at your child’s pace, and treatment is not done at the first visit unless it’s urgent.
• Prevention first. We focus on stopping cavities before they start.
• A kid-friendly office, with toys and TVs in the waiting room.
• All PPO plans and Medi-Cal Dental accepted.
• Care in three languages: English, German, and Farsi.

When should the first visit be?

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a first dental visit by your child’s first birthday, or within six months after the first tooth appears. We welcome children from 6 months old.

Starting early lets us catch small problems before they grow, and it helps your child get used to the dentist while visits are short and easy.

First visit for children under 3

For the youngest children, the first visit is a short, gentle check-up. The main goal is to let your child get familiar with the office, the sights and sounds, and Dr. Salem herself.

• Lap exam. You sit in the dental chair with your child on your lap, facing Dr. Salem, so your child feels secure.
• A gentle look. Dr. Salem checks your child’s teeth, gums, growth, and development, and looks for early signs of cavities.
• Help for home. We show you how to clean your child’s teeth and talk about habits like thumb-sucking, pacifiers, and bottles.
• Your questions. You’ll have time to ask anything you like.

X-rays are usually not needed at this visit.

First visit for children 3 and older

At this age, most children are ready to sit in the chair on their own. If your child isn’t ready yet, they can stay on your lap until they feel comfortable.

The visit includes:

1. A complete exam of your child’s teeth, gums, bite, and development
2. A gentle cleaning
3. A fluoride treatment, if needed
4. Digital X-rays, only if needed
5. A talk with Dr. Salem about what she found, any treatment she recommends, and your questions

If your child needs treatment

If Dr. Salem finds a cavity or another problem, treatment is usually scheduled for a separate appointment, not done at the first visit, unless it’s urgent. This keeps the first visit positive and gives us time to plan the treatment in the way that’s best for your child.

Children’s dental services

Everything your child needs is available in our office:

• Examinations to check teeth, gums, growth, and development
• Oral hygiene instructions so you and your child know how to brush and floss at every age
• Dental cleanings to remove plaque and keep gums healthy
• Digital X-rays, which use very little radiation and are taken only when needed
• Sealants, thin protective coatings on the back teeth, where most children’s cavities start
• Tooth-colored fillings that blend in with your child’s smile
• Stainless steel crowns for back teeth, a strong, lasting repair for baby molars with large cavities
• White crowns for front teeth, so a repaired front tooth looks natural
• Pulpotomy, a nerve treatment that saves a baby tooth with a deep cavity
• Space maintainers, which hold the space open for the adult tooth when a baby tooth is lost early
• Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to help anxious children relax during treatment

How to prepare your child

• Choose a time of day when your child is rested, and avoid nap time
• Talk about the visit in a positive, simple way: “The dentist will count your teeth”
• Avoid words like “hurt,” “shot,” or “drill”
• Read a children’s book or play “dentist” at home beforehand
• Bring a favorite toy or blanket for comfort
• Bring your insurance card and a list of any medications your child takes

Questions parents ask

Can I stay with my child during the visit?
Yes. Parents are welcome in the room, and very young children sit on a parent’s lap for the exam.

How long does the first visit take?
About 30 minutes for children under 3, and about 45 minutes to an hour for older children who have a cleaning.

What if my child cries or won’t cooperate?
That’s completely normal, and we’re used to it. We never force a child. We go slowly, and sometimes the first visit is simply about getting comfortable.

Will my child need X-rays?
Usually not at a first visit for children under 3. For older children, we take low-radiation digital X-rays only when they’re needed.

Why fix a baby tooth if it’s going to fall out?
Baby teeth help your child chew, speak clearly, and hold space for the adult teeth. An untreated cavity can cause pain and infection and can affect the adult tooth growing underneath. That’s why we treat baby teeth with fillings, crowns, or a pulpotomy instead of leaving them.

Is laughing gas safe for children?
Yes. Nitrous oxide is mild and has been used safely in children’s dentistry for many years. Your child stays awake, breathes it through a small nose mask, and it wears off within minutes.

How often should my child come in after the first visit?
Every six months, unless Dr. Salem recommends coming in more often.

Do you take my insurance?
We accept all PPO dental plans and Medi-Cal Dental. We do not accept HMO plans. Call us at 562-435-8339 and we’ll check your benefits for you.

Schedule your child’s first visit

Call Salem Dentistry at 562-435-8339 or book online today. To learn more about our care for children, including orthodontics and emergency visits, see our Kids’ Dentist page. For brushing tips by age, visit our oral hygiene page.