At Chompers Pediatric Dentistry our office is designed just for children.  We have an open hygiene area for your children when it’s time for their checkup.  Each chair has a TV and headphones to help children relax while they get their teeth cleaned and examined.  For our older patients we have a separate area that we call our “teen side” that features traditional chairs but still with TVs above the chairs and headphones.

Our open bay allows us to utilize the “tell, show, do theory”.  Children are able to watch other patients getting their teeth cleaned and can see that they are fine and that there is nothing to be afraid of.  We “tell” them what we are going to do, we “show” them what we are going to use and then we “do” what we have told them that we are going to do.

Studies show that most children do better with an open bay type hygiene room.  It allows our patients to not feel so confined in a small room as they get their teeth cleaned and for their examination.  They get to see other patients with the dentist or other assistants so they can see that it is okay and that helps them relax during their appointment.

The benches in the open bay area are flat and do not move - similar to the benches that are at the pediatrician’s office.  Our stationary benches seems more familiar to them and helps alleviate the fears that sometime come with the feeling of falling when a dental chair is moving.

Does this mean it works for all children?  Unfortunately not.  Some kids are very sensitive to their surroundings and we can accommodate that with a private room.

We use our open bay only for dental checkups and cleanings.  Most other dental treatment is completed in a different room that is much more like a traditional dental office, however the children walk by the open bay area at every visit and are reminded that going to the dentist is easy and fun!