Creating Positive Experiences with Pediatric Dentistry
Serving Miles City, Baker, Brodus, Circle, Forsyth, Glendive and Surrounding Areas
We believe kids are ultra-cool, curious, and creative individuals that need to be treated with kindness, respect, and a gentle touch! Your Miles City dentist, Dr. Eric Hogan enjoys providing dental treatment for the WHOLE family at Hogan Family Dental, including pediatric dentistry. Our office is designed to treat children of all ages starting at age zero if needed!
We adhere to the American Dental Association and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s recommendations and look forward to seeing your child for their first visit at age one or when your child’s first tooth erupts. Children are usually very receptive to dental exams at this young age and we find creating positive experiences early is very beneficial to overall comfort level at the dentist.. To learn more about pediatric dentistry at our friendly Miles City, MT dental practice, please contact us today.
Tips for a Successful Appointment
We are excited for your little one to arrive. We hope you and your child are looking forward to this new experience just as you would if you were planning a trip to the park or zoo! An upbeat attitude from the child’s primary caregiver is usually all that is needed to create a successful first visit.
Preparation
We encourage you to keep details about what to expect to a minimum. If your child needs to be prepared further, we suggest you let them know that Drs. Eric or Robin Hogan will check their smile and count their teeth. This is a simple and fun activity to perform at home. Feel free to simulate an initial visit by counting your child’s teeth with a toothbrush and make a kind comment about their beautiful, shiny smile. Praise them for sitting still and for opening wide for you.
Appointment Time
Our front office team will happily schedule your child on a day and time that best works for you and your schedule. We do recommend mid-morning appointments (avoiding naptime) for young children; studies show that children are most receptive to new experiences at this time of day. Your child’s appointment will be most successful when s/he is well-rested and has eaten.
Records
Your child will need a completed health history, signed credit policy, and signed HIPAA acknowledgement. These forms are available on our Patient Forms page. We are happy to mail them to you, if requested. Please bring all completed paperwork to your child’s initial appointment or arrive 15 minutes early to complete this paperwork.
If your child has dental benefits, we will request to see your dental benefit card in order to facilitate claim processing. With your permission, we will take a photograph of your child for patient records.
Small Things Make a Big Difference
Creature Comforts
Feel free to allow your children to bring headphones or electronic devices to their visit. We have teddy bears available to hold and have a stuffed animal named Farley that we frequently use to demonstrate oral hygiene instructions. Feel free to bring a unique blanket or toy if it would help your child feel more comfortable.
Rewards
All kids like rewards, so let them know they will receive a prize when they come to see Drs. Eric and Robin Hogan as a reward for meeting their new dentist. Once your child’s clinical care is complete, they will be rewarded for their cooperation with a visit to the prize cupboard.
When You Arrive
Our Waiting Room
We have a welcoming waiting room for your child with coloring sheets, story books, and toys. We also have interactive games for you to play with your child such as UNO®, Connect4 ®, and Go Fish® cards.
What to Expect From our Team
Philosophy of Care
After you have registered with our front office team, our dental assistants will escort you to the treatment area. We will be sure to offer your child a tour of the office and point out a few highlights of our clinic. We believe in the Tell-Show-Do philosophy and will personally engage your child before any treatment is offered. Once seated, a member of our team will “show and tell” your child some of our dental equipment to help the child feel comfortable. Hearing the sounds and feeling the sensations minimizes surprises in advance of their treatment.
Experience
Dr. Eric Hogan has been practicing general dentistry since 2003, and has five children of his own. His experience and knowledge assist him in creating a comfortable experience for most children.
Nitrous Oxide
Some children benefit from the use of nitrous oxide (laughing gas). This form of conscious sedation accompanies local anesthetic and is available in our office. Nitrous oxide is best utilized when your child is relaxed and calm. We will be certain to assess the need for nitrous oxide and make recommendations for its use when appropriate.
Pediatric Treatments Available at HFD
Our team at Hogan Family Dental is prepared to offer the following dental services for children: dental maintenance visits (cleanings), exams, fluoride treatments, digital radiographs (x-rays), dental fillings, frenectomies, extractions, simple orthodontics, emergency treatment including treatment for avulsed teeth and fractured jaws, pulpotomies, stainless steel crowns, and wisdom teeth extractions. To schedule an appointment for your child, contact us today.
Anesthetic-Free Fillings
One of the most challenging aspects of treating children is addressing fear of “the shot.” Dental lasers allow us to treat many cavities in children without anesthesia. This advanced option is available right here in Miles City, and can be used in many cases. Lasers can allow Dr. Eric to preserve more natural tooth structure and create more composite restorations for children.