Southern Maine Pediatric Dentistry
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General InformationYour child’s first visitChildren should begin visiting the dentist approximately six months after the eruption of the first tooth. Prepare for your child’s first visit by taking a positive approach. It is important for young children to have positive initial experiences, as these experiences will set the tone for their future attitude toward dental care and oral hygiene. At Southern Maine Pediatric Dentistry your child will experience a fun, relaxed and safe environment where they will meet other children and learn about proper oral health. Our goal is for your child to have an exciting and educational experience so that they will enjoy visiting the dentist thoughout their lifetime. Preventive Care Visits
During these appointments, our doctor will assess your child’s dental and skeletal development and how it relates to future orthodontic treatment (braces). Many times extensive and costly orthodontic treatment can be averted through interceptive timely care during facial growth and development. Our doctor is specifically trained to identify such instances, and will direct you and your child to the most qualified specialist if needed. Scheduling and Cancellation PolicyYour scheduled appointment time is reserved specifically for your child. We require 24 hours notice to cancel or reschedule an appointment. We make every effort to confirm appointments 24 to 48 hours prior to arrival. In consideration of other patients please make every effort to arrive on time. If you are late we may need to reschedule your child’s appointment. You may be asked to arrive a few minutes early to complete paperwork and update medical histories. Although we strive to stay on time, we are devoted to the children we treat. Occasionally children need a little extra time or a mini break during treatment. We make every effort to incorporate “break times” into the scheduled treatment time. However, the needs of our children sometimes cause us to run late. We ask for your understanding. If we are running more than 15 minutes late, please see the receptionist. We would be happy to reschedule you if your time schedule does not allow you to stay. Sickness and missed appointments
We understand that emergencies happen, however missed appointments disrupt
the schedule and take valuable treatment time away from other children who
are waiting to be seen. Please be considerate of others and provide at least
24 hours notice when rescheduling or cancelling. Parent Child SeparationParents are encouraged to come into the treatment area on their first visit to view our facilities and to personally meet the doctor and staff. Everyone will make a great effort to ensure that your child feels comfortable in these new surroundings. We strive to make these positive encounters. We hope that parents will become comfortable enough to allow their child to enter the treatment area by themselves on subsequent visits. This allows the child to establish an uninterrupted relationship with the doctor and her staff. Occasionally, the doctor may feel that a child will respond with better behavior if a parent is present. If we ask a parent or guardian to accompany their child into the treatment area, we ask that they stay seated and act as a silent supportive partner. It is important that we establish cooperation and trust directly with each patient to ensure future success. Behavior Management Techniques
Emergency careIf your child has an emergency, please call us, and we will see your child as soon as possible. After hours our answering machine will provide you with a number to reach the Dr. Wignall. Please leave a message and your call will be answered as soon as possible. Occasionally, an emergency will cause us to run late with our scheduled patients. We thank you for your understanding and will keep you informed. Financial PolicyPayment is expected at the time services are rendered. For your convenience, we accept cash, personal checks, visa, master card, american express and discover. We also accept “Care Credit.” We participate in delta dental premiere plan. If we do not take your insurance plan, we are happy to file your insurance claims electronically. Benefits vary with each insurance plan. You should be prepared to pay any amount that is determined not payable by your insurance plan, such as deductibles and co-pays. Office Policies
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We recommend that your child be seen every 6 months
for routine preventive care. However, some children may require more frequent
visits. During these visits, your child will have a dental cleaning, exam
and fluoride application. Xrays may be taken. Our hygienist will work with
your child to review and implement proper oral hygiene techniques. 
If your child is ill, please call our office
as soon as possible to reschedule. Children scheduled for sedation will
not be treated if they are ill.
We do our best to provide your child with the
highest quality dental care in a safe and caring environment. Every effort
will be made to work with your child to gain cooperation through understanding,
gentle guidance, humor and charm. When these fail, there are other management
techniques that can be used to eliminate or minimize disruptive behavior.
Our dentist and staff have received training in the techniques accepted
by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. These will be explained
to you during your child’s
first visit.