Child Dental History
The American Dental Association recommends that children be seen by a dentist as soon as their first tooth erupts, but at least no later than the first birthday. A dental visit at an early age is a "well baby checkup" for the teeth.
Parents should be brushing baby teeth as soon as they erupt without fluoridated toothpaste. Supervise tooth brushing to make sure children over 2 years of age use only a pea sized amount of fluoride toothpaste and avoid swallowing it. Children should be taught to spit out remaining toothpaste and rinse with water after brushing. Most children will be able to brush on their own by the age of 6 or 7 years.
Parents should be using floss on their children's teeth as soon as any two teeth touch. Cleaning between the teeth is important because it removes plaque where a toothbrush cannot reach. Brush your child's teeth twice a day. The baby teeth are extremely important in keeping a mouth healthy. If a cavity develops in the baby teeth, it grows very rapidly and can lead to dental pain and infection of the underlying permanent teeth. Any drink containing sugar and/or citric acid (all sodas, sports drinks, juices, etc.) make the teeth more susceptible to cavities by lowering the pH of the mouth so bacteria can thrive. Please limit these so your child can have a healthy mouth.
Once the permanent molars erupt (usually around age 6), we recommend sealing the tops of the teeth to prevent decay with dental sealants . If your child is cavity prone, we can also seal the tops of the primary teeth as well for prevention.
Help your children maintain a lifelong healthy smile by providing them with a well- balanced diet, limiting starchy and sugary snacks , ensuring that they brush twice per day and floss once per day, and scheduling regular dental checkups for them.
Please call our office should you have any questions about your child's dental health.
Thank you for choosing O'Rourke Family & Cosmetic Dentistry. We strongly feel our patients deserve the best possible care and we would like to share some facts about dental insurance with you.
Fact 1: Dental insurance is NOT meant to be a PAY-ALL, it's only meant to aid
Fact 2: Many plans tell their insured they will be covered "up to 80%-100%." Despite what you are told, we have found that most plans cover 40% to 70% of an average fee. The amount that your plan pays is determined by THEIR fee schedule and those benefits are largely based on how much your employer paid for the plan. Remember, you get back only what the employer puts in, less the profits of the insurance company. Most insurance plans have a maximum benefit and a deductible each year that has not changed since the 1970's.
Fact 3: It has been the experience of many dentists that some insurances tell their customers the "fees are above the usual and customary fee" when a much more accurate statement would be, "Any difference in the fee charged, and the benefits paid, is due to limitations in the plan contract."
Fact 4: Some dental services are not covered by insurance carriers. Please do not hesitate to ask us any questions about our policies. We want you to be comfortable in dealing with these matters, and we urge you to consult with us if you have any questions regarding our services and/or fees. We will gladly file with your insurance company and will make every effort to maximize your insurance benefits.
However, please remember that ultimately, you are financially responsible for your account with our office, not your insurance company.
I authorize payment of dental treatment directly to O'Rourke Family and Cosmetic Dentistry for all dental services:
I authorize release of any dental information necessary to process insurance claims:
Thank you for choosing O'Rourke Family & Cosmetic Dentistry. Our primary mission is to deliver the best and most comprehensive dental care available. An important part of this mission is making the cost of optimal care as easy and manageable for our patients as possible by offering several payment options.