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Step 1
Ask your pediatrician. Most pediatric offices are affiliated with or simply knowledgeable about the local pediatric dental practices and can refer you.
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Step 2
Use the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) site (see Resources). Their finder service is free and provides contact information for pediatric dentists who are in good standing with the AAPD.
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Step 3
Use an alternate, commercial site that has a database of children's dentists. Children's dentist.com and 1stpediatricdentist.com both provide searchable databases of pediatric dental health providers (see Resources below).
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Step 4
Enter search criteria on the site specific to your needs. This might include geographic area, gender and language abilities.
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Step 5
Call the dentists that fit your profile request and discuss costs and insurance acceptance (if applicable).
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Step 6
Schedule an appointment to meet the pediatric dentist without your children. This appointment should not cost you anything. Evaluate the office staff's demeanor during the call and look over the office during your visit.
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Step 7
Make sure you see an autoclave for sanitizing equipment and that staff are provided appropriate safety gear. Evaluate the decor--is there a theme, such as Snoopy or another age-appropriate character? This will help your child feel more at home. If all seems satisfactory, move forward and schedule your children with the dentist.
