FAQ

Yes! We accept most PPO insurance plans, and our billing team is more than happy to work with you to ensure that you receive the most from your benefits!

You can pay your bill in person at the time of service, or you can pay over the phone by calling the office.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that your child’s first visit to the dentist should happen before their first birthday. If you’ve already passed this milestone, don’t sweat it. You can schedule your child’s appointment now! Late is far better than never. Schedule your child’s dental appointment as soon as you feel comfortable.

Yes! Infants and toddlers are at different developmental stages and are not yet equipped to sit in the dental chair and let dental work happen. We have a dedicated room just for babies and toddlers. Your kiddo will sit on your lap during the appointment, and the majority of it will be spent on dental education. If you want to know more about what to expect at your baby or toddler’s first visit, we encourage you to read our page on how to prepare your child for their first dental appointment.

Your kid’s baby teeth are really important. Some baby teeth don’t fall out until age 12-13. If dental issues are left untreated, they can cause pain or an infection. Early establishment of good oral health habits, including visiting the dentist, helps children develop a lifelong positive relationship with oral health.

Pediatric dentists receive two to three additional years of training in child psychology, behavior, and development. There are certain conditions, concerns, and issues specific to children that only pediatric dentists can successfully handle. You can be assured your child will be receiving special care.

Yes! In fact, Dr. Sarah Carpenter worked with some of the most high-risk, medically complicated children during her pediatric specialty training at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. She has a wealth of experience treating special needs and medically complicated children. Whatever your child needs, she has the training and compassion to meet your child where they are.

We know that your child’s safety is of the utmost importance to you, and it is to us, too. We aim to ensure that our patients feel informed about all aspects of their dental care. We are committed to a list of guidelines provided by the CDC, including:

• Hand hygiene. We use hospital-grade disinfectant soap to wash our hands regularly.
• Use of personal protection equipment (PPE). We use a variety of PPE to ensure infection control in our dental office, including sterile gloves, face masks, protective gowns, and even face shields as needed.
• Proper sterilization of dental instruments is of the utmost importance to infection control in dentistry. We use a dental autoclave machine, also known as a dental steam sanitizer, to sanitize most of our dental tools. All of our equipment is sterilized after each use.
• For items that can’t be cleaned in an autoclave, we use a process called cold sterilization. You can be sure that any tool that we use during your dental treatment is sterile.
• All surfaces, including switches on dental chairs, computer equipment, countertops, and handles are disinfected using EPA-certified, hospital-grade cleaning supplies.

If you have any other questions about our sterilization procedures, feel free to contact our office! We want to be transparent with you in everything we do.

As a parent, you are the expert on your child. We will never do anything without your consent. For example, if you don’t approve of fluoride treatments, we won’t do them. It’s as simple as that.

As a general rule, we recommend stopping this habit by age 3 to prevent problems for your child’s teeth. If the habit persists past this age, there’s a chance it can affect the bone development of the mouth and may lead to costly orthodontic treatment in the future. If this appears as though it will be an issue, Dr. Sarah Carpenter can offer tips and tricks to help wean your child from their habit.

Lip and tongue ties can be a big stressor for parents. A tongue tie is when a band of tissue connects the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth, which keeps it from moving freely. Normally, the tongue can move out past the lower lip and reach up to the hard palate (roof of the mouth). Problems with tongue ties can vary depending on a child’s age.

Signs of a tongue tie in infants:

• A lactation consultant has said your baby has a tongue tie

• Your baby has trouble getting a good latch while trying to breastfeed

• Your baby has a weak latch, gums or bites the nipple, or you experience pain or injury to the nipple while nursing

Signs of an oral tie in older children:

An older child with an oral tie may struggle with:

• Speech and saying certain sounds (/d/, /l/, /t/, /th/, etc.)

• Sticking their tongue out past their teeth

• Licking their lips or making a licking motion to do things like lick an ice cream cone

• Playing wind instruments

• Tooth decay since they can’t clear food from their teeth with their tongue

• Gapped teeth

• Cuts to the frenulum as it gets caught between the lower front teeth

If your child has an oral tie but isn’t struggling because of it, then they might not need treatment. The frenulum can stretch as a child grows. The stretching may give the tongue enough freedom to move normally and let the child speak clearly.

If an infant has a tongue tie and is struggling to breastfeed because of it, we will work with you to try to solve the problem. Sometimes, this means that the baby will require a frenectomy, a procedure wherein Dr. Sarah uses a laser to cut the tissue. This procedure is simple and quick, and it can even be done without anesthesia in babies younger than three months old. Following your procedure, we recommend you follow up with a lactation consultant to help your baby re-learn how to latch.

Of course! Staying with your child is not only great for your comfort and your child’s comfort, but it is also a great way for you to be actively involved in your child’s dental care. We want every child to feel safe in our office, and we know that can mean staying close to your parent. We would never deny a child their parent or caretaker.