About your first visit

Establishing your child's dental home

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that a child see a dentist within six months of the first baby tooth coming into the mouth and no later than one year of age. This initial visit allows your child to establish a “Dental Home”—a place for your child to grow and be supported throughout childhood and adolescence. Children who have a dental home established early are less likely to form cavities and are more likely to get the appropriate preventive and regular oral health care that they need.

The first dental visit and those that follow will be a more positive experience if you bring your child at an early age. These 6 month check ups allow for your child to get more comfortable at the dentist and are more likely to allow for dental treatment if needed. For younger children (usually 3 and under) we will usually do a knee to knee exam with the child in the parent’s lap, as the child ages and cooperation improves we will introduce them to the dental chair and additional instruments.

Supporting your child at their first visit

During your child’s first and subsequent dental visits, we invite you to stay with your child during the exam as a quiet observer. We ask that you do not use words around your child that may cause fear. This includes words such as “needle,” “shot,” “drill,” “hurt,” and “pull.” We employ kid-friendly terms in our office such as “wiggle” (pull/extract), “sleepy tooth juice” (shot) and “red” (blood). Please ask the dental team if you have any questions about what words are best to avoid.

Emergency Care

With Bloom Pediatric Dentistry as your child’s Dental Home, your child has an option for dental emergency management other than the Emergency Room. In the event that your child experiences trauma to his or her mouth, please contact our office immediately at 503-507-0996.

What should you bring with you to your child's first visit?

At your child’s visit, please bring a copy of the insurance card, your license or picture ID, and any referral form or x-rays from a dentist or doctor. You should also bring an appropriate form of payment.

Additional Items to bring if indicated:

· Clearance letter from a pediatrician or cardiologist if your child has a heart condition, including a murmur

· Court documents if you are a foster parent or are the guardian over a child who is not your biological child.

* Please note that the person bringing your child to their visit at Bloom Pediatric Dentistry must be authorized to do so. For example, if the child’s grandparent or another adult accompanies him or her to their visit, that person must be authorized to give permission for treatment. If someone other than the parent or legal guardian is bringing your child to their visit, please ensure that you have provided written authorization to our office in advance. We cannot provide treatment without prior permission.

Billing & Insurance

In our effort to keep the focus on your child’s positive oral health journey, we will do all that we can to assist you in using your insurance benefits and simplifying your payment process.

We tailor your child’s treatment plan according to his or her dental needs and work with your family’s timeline to achieve the best possible oral health outcome. Any amount not covered by insurance is expected on the day those services are rendered. Because we are not a lending institution, we are unable to set up personal payment plans, but we do offer finance options through Care Credit.

Do you take my insurance?

Bloom Pediatric Dentistry accepts most major insurance including OHP. We are currently a participating in-network provider for Delta Dental Premiere. However, as a courtesy to you, we will file your insurance once you make your co-payment if applicable, which will be determined by your child’s individual dental needs and treatment plan.

What types of payment do you accept?

Bloom Pediatric Dentistry accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, debit cards, checks, HSA cards, and cash. We can also assist you in financing options such as CareCredit.