Your First Appointment with Your Asheville Pediatric Dentist

Dental experiences can be scary for anyone, whether you’re a parent or a little one. But for kids and babies who are going to their pediatric dentist for the first time, it can be especially overwhelming (and even lead to some tears).
At Great Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, we like to make sure that your child’s dental care is as painless as possible, including the first visit. A big step to having an appointment full of smiles involves making sure that parents know what’s going to happen.
That’s why we’ve put together an awesome guide to pediatric dentistry, pediatric dentists, and what to expect at your first appointment. Let’s check it out!
What is Pediatric Dentistry?
Pediatric dentists are dental care professionals who specialize in treating the oral health of babies, children, and adolescents. Healthy smiles start with comprehensive, routine Asheville pediatric dentistry from a specialist who has the extra training, qualifications, and experience to care for children.
Why Choose a
Pediatric Dentist?
Dental care for children means that your doctor will have been trained specifically to treat children and their unique needs as they grow – unlike a family dentist.
What to Look for
in Your Dentist
When looking at dentistry for kids, you want to find somewhere that has a compassionate team, doctors that strive for a positive experience, and a space for small smiles.
Pediatric
Dentistry Training
Pediatric dentistry requires additional education beyond four years of dental school. They also have two years in a residency program focused on infants, kids, and teens.

When Should Your Child See a Dentist?
Our team and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommend that your child visit the dentist by their first birthday. This encourages a lifetime of healthy habits and getting the best dental experience through routine cleanings and checkups from an early age.
A pleasant and comfortable experience will also encourage your infant to enjoy seeing the doctor instead of feeling anxious about dental care!
Understanding Every Step of Your First Visit
Visiting a dentistry office for the first time? Here’s what new patients can expect from our Asheville NC office or visiting another dental practice.
Say Hello to Your Smile Team
Meeting our team is an important part of welcoming you to the Great Smiles family. Patients of all ages visiting us for the first time will get to say hello to the office staff and doctors. This will also help you see if our Asheville practice is a good fit for your child.
Taking a Look at Your Teeth
Next, it’s time for your child to take a seat in the patient’s chair. Don’t worry – we only bring great vibes to the exam room so that your little one can have fun and feel safe from start to finish. This involves taking a look at their teeth, checking them for tongue tie issues, and talking to mom or dad about healthy habits for keeping teeth clean.
Treatment Time!
After checking out those teeth, we may or may not suggest treatment for caries or preventative care if you have time. The whole time, we are focused on making sure your child is smiling!
Checking Out Your Papers
Paperwork does not spark joy or inspire smiles. We want to spend more time focused on your teeth (and having fun), not filling out forms. That’s why we encourage our new patients to fill out our online dental forms before their visit.
Asheville Pediatric Dentistry at Great Smiles
Are you looking for a dental office for your child in Asheville, NC? Then it’s time to check out our incredible team of experienced doctors at Great Smiles Pediatric Dentistry + Orthodontics!
With several years (over 40!) of inspiring smiles in Asheville, we are dedicated to outstanding oral health for the whole family. Come see our fun hang-out spots in Asheville, Waynesville, North Asheville, Marion, and Sylva!