6 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Family Dentist
If you’re new to the Plano, TX area, welcome! If you’ve been here for a while and are looking for a dentist your whole family can see, we hope you will consider 1st In Smiles! Dr. Rick Barfield has been providing superior family dentistry in the Plano, TX area for more than 30 years. Whether you choose us or are looking elsewhere, there are some important questions you need to ask yourself as you make your decision. Read on to find out how we strive to answer all these concerns.
1. Do You See Children Regularly?
Yes! Dr. Barfield loves welcoming children into our office every single day! In fact, he’s been providing dental care to children for three decades – and some of them are now his adult patients with their own kids!
Our whole staff loves catering to children and working with them. If your child feels more comfortable with you in the room, that’s perfectly fine with us. If they’d like to come in by themselves, you can trust leaving them in our hands. We will never demean your child or make them feel uncomfortable in any way. We love teaching them about their oral health care in fun, understandable ways, and we are here to answer all their questions.
Young children enjoy “rides” in our dental chairs and looking at our dental instruments and equipment. If your child isn’t ready yet for a cleaning, we can do a “Happy Visit” that will get them familiar with the office, equipment, and staff first. This is a free first visit we are pleased to offer you.
2. Do You Offer Dental Financing?
Yes, we offer many ways to pay for your family’s dental care. We understand that families have enough financial responsibilities as is, so we don’t want dental care to be one of them. Alternatively, we don’t want families to neglect important dental care, especially for children, who are prone to tooth decay. You can see a list of our convenient payment options here.
3. Do You Have Convenient Hours That I Can Fit Into My Family’s Busy Schedule?
Absolutely! We cater to busy families, which is why we have early morning hours (we open at 7:00 a.m.) and evening hours (open until 5:00 two days a week and until 6:00 three days a week). We even have Saturday hours if your weekday schedule is jam-packed or if you or a loved one has a dental emergency. When you call for an appointment, let us know what’s best for your schedule, and we’ll work around it. If you have more than one child you’d like to bring in at one office visit, tell us as well so we can make their appointment times easy for you.
4. Can You Help My Child Who’s Afraid of the Dentist?
Dr. Barfield and our staff have helped countless patients – young and old – overcome their fears of the dentist. With our caring attitude, family-friendly office (take advantage of our music, pillows, or TVs!), and gentle treatments, we have helped make our patients feel comfortable and at home!
If your child, your teen, or you are very anxious about a dental visit, ask us about sedation. We offer FREE nitrous oxide, known as laughing gas, as well as other sedation options depending on your level of fear and the type of treatment you’re undergoing. Nitrous oxide is safe for kids and can be used for simple procedures. They might even become giggly!
5. Do You Offer Treatments for All Ages?
Yes, we do! In this blog post, we’ve focused mostly on kids, but we can provide dentistry for every age, from 1 to 101! From dental exams to cosmetic dentistry and even tooth-replacement options, we have your whole family covered.
6. Do You Offer Special Treatments in One Location, or Will I Have to Get Referred for Other Procedures?
With our knowledge, skill set, and years of experience, we are able to provide just about any treatment you need in our office. From wisdom teeth removal to Invisalign, TMJ treatment, sleep apnea treatment, implants, and even athletic mouthguards, we can keep your family from having to drive all over town for treatment. If Dr. Barfield sees that your case is particularly difficult, he can bring in a specialist and work closely with them to fix your problem.
Check out our extensive list of services here.
Make Us Your Family Dentist Home!
If you have other questions about our family dental care, don’t hesitate to ask! Contact us today with your questions or to set up convenient appointments for your family. We’ll be happy to be a part of your family’s continued health and happiness!