Frequently Asked Questions
What if my child does not cooperate?
Our entire team is completely comfortable with the different temperaments of young children (especially toddlers). While we understand it can be very hard on you as the parent if your child is upset, we will remain calm and use our pediatric skills to help soothe your child. Depending on the child’s age and the procedures needed, we will decide with you the best way to proceed.
- For little ones scheduled for a routine check-up, we may opt to do the exam only with your help and hold off on other procedures such as a cleaning until the child is older and more comfortable/ready to participate in the appointment.
- For older children, we will help to educate the child on the necessity of certain procedures and work with you on what the best next steps are. At the end of the day, you know your child best and we will support you in whatever way possible.
If treatment of decay is needed, we have many tools including Nitrous Oxide, movies, headphones, and a very skilled team of doctors and staff to help coach, coax and distract your child through the appointment. We understand that child behavior is unpredictable, but kids are teachable. Many kids behave amazingly well during dental treatment – often better than adults! We love to see an apprehensive child conquer their fear and learn to love going to the dentist!
If the above techniques are not adequate, sedation and general anesthesia are also available. Please go to our Comfort Options section for more information.
Do you accept my dental insurance?
We are in-network with many dental insurance providers. For a complete list, please visit our office policies page.
Where do I complete my child's paperwork?
We can either email or text you a link to your child’s paperwork. Please text us at 833.342.2924 to request a link.
What should I do if my child is experiencing a dental emergency?
Please immediately call our office (24/7) at 970.224.3600 if your child is experiencing a dental emergency. From here please follow the prompts to receive help from our on-call dentist.
May I stay with my child while they are being treated?
Absolutely – parents are welcome to stay with their children during their appointment. We actually encourage parents to join their children for the initial visit to see the office and meet the full team.
After the first visit, many older children, and those who have been to the dentist many times may prefer to come into the office alone. We love to see their confidence at their dental visit, and actually have found it often leads to more cooperation & collaboration between the dentist and child. This allows our doctors and staff to engage your child better one-on-one, building trust and rapport while having fun. If your child comes in alone, we’ll keep you in the loop and you’ll always be part of all decision making. We also send every child out with a fun individual report card reflecting what was discussed and the status of their dental health.
If your child is very young or has special needs, we’re excited to have you join us for every appointment.
We ask that siblings, or other children not being treated stay in the reception area (or the car) with a supervising adult.
Do you have board certified pediatric dentists?
Yes, Dr. Joe Guido and Dr. Ihsan Larsen are board certified/board eligible pediatric dentists. To learn more about them, please visit our about us page.
When should I take my baby/toddler to the dentist?
The general rule of thumb is 1st tooth or 1st birthday, whichever comes first. However, we understand this isn’t always the first thing on your mind at those ages. We welcome you to bring in your child for their first appointment any time – we’re always here to support you and your healthy smile journey! If you’d like to learn more about what to expect at your first toddler appointment, check out our toddler visit page.
If you’re experiencing issues with nursing/bottle feeding and suspect it to be related to a tongue or lip tie, please call our office to schedule a 1:1 consultation with Dr. Joe Guido for evaluation.
MKPD Office Fees
