First visit and forms
Your first visit to Lakes Pediatric Dentistry.
Whether your child is one or thirteen, here is how a first visit with us works: forms done online before you arrive, a quick check-in at the front desk, and time with Dr. Farooq that starts with a conversation, not an instrument. New patients are always welcome.
What to bring
What to bring to your first visit.
The front desk can look most of this up, but having it with you keeps the visit short and gives Dr. Farooq the full picture from the start.
- Insurance or Medicaid card
- A list of current medications
- Any allergies your child has
- Completed new patient forms
- A comfort item for your child
- Records from a previous dentist
What happens
Your first visit with us, step by step.
Nothing here is a surprise on the day. If it would help your child to see the office first, call and we will arrange a short look at the rooms, with no appointment attached.
- 01
Before you arrive
Complete the new patient forms online. The front desk confirms your insurance or Medicaid coverage ahead of time, so there are no surprises at check-in. If you are switching from another dentist, ask them to send your child’s records.
- 02
At the front desk
Check in, hand over anything you brought, and let your child try the arcade games in the waiting room. Most families are called back within a few minutes.
- 03
Meeting Dr. Farooq
She shows your child each instrument before she uses it, then examines the teeth, bite, and gums. For most children the first visit includes a cleaning and fluoride varnish. X-rays are taken only when there is a reason.
- 04
Before you leave
Dr. Farooq walks you through what she found and what to do at home. The front desk books the next check-up, usually six months out, before you head to the car.
What happens at a child’s first dental visit?
If your child has never seen a dentist, come around the first birthday, or within six months of the first tooth, whichever happens first. Most parents find that earlier than expected. Before the visit, say the dentist will count your teeth, look at your smile, and show you the tools. Leave out shots, drills, needles, and hurt. A child hears the scary word, not the reassurance around it.
The visit is short and often happens on your lap. Dr. Farooq looks at the teeth, gums, bite, and soft tissue and checks for early decay at the gumline. X-rays are not part of a first visit at this age. Most of the appointment is a conversation with you: teething, bottles, pacifiers, cleaning teeth that are barely there, and the right amount of toothpaste.
If your child is not ready, the visit becomes a look and a conversation, and the rest waits. A first visit that ends with a child willing to come back is a successful first visit.
Request an appointment
Call during office hours, or send the request form any time.
Call 248-360-2555, Monday to Thursday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Outside those hours, send the request form and a person replies during office hours, usually within one business day.
Request an appointmentNew patient forms
Complete the new patient forms online before you arrive.
The forms are hosted by OperaDDS and open in a new tab. Have your insurance card and your child’s medication list nearby. If anything is unclear, call the front desk and they will help by phone.
Opens the OperaDDS forms portal in a new tab.
Questions parents ask
Before your first visit with us.
What new families ask before they come in.
Can we see the office before the visit?
Yes. Call 248-360-2555 and we will arrange a short look at the front desk, the waiting room, and an exam room, with no appointment attached. It helps an anxious child, and it helps a child with special healthcare needs know the place before anything happens there.
Will there be X-rays at the first visit?
Only when there is a reason. For a toddler, no. For an older child, Dr. Farooq takes X-rays when there are contacts she cannot see into, a history of decay, or a specific concern, and the imaging is scaled to children. If your child had X-rays recently at another dentist, ask them to send the records and we may not need new ones.
Can I stay with my child?
Yes. A parent is welcome in the room at every visit, and for young children the exam often happens on your lap.
Is a first visit covered?
For most plans, yes, including Medicaid and Healthy Kids Dental. The front desk confirms your coverage before the visit. Plans are listed on the insurance page.
Do I need to fill out forms first?
It saves time. The forms are online through OperaDDS and take a few minutes. If you cannot finish them, come ten minutes early and the front desk will help you through them by hand.
Book a visit
Ready to schedule your child’s visit?
Call us during office hours or send a request online any time. Our team will reach out to book a time that works for your family.
New patients are always welcome.
Front desk, Monday to Thursday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM
After-hours dental emergency? Call 248-345-6775.
Have an emergency?
If your child is struggling to breathe or swallow, or has a head injury, call 911 first. For a dental emergency that is not life-threatening, such as a knocked-out tooth, a broken tooth, dental swelling, or pain that will not settle, call our emergency line, day or night. We would rather tell you it can wait than have you sit on it over a weekend.