Our Springfield office welcomes children, adults, and grandparents. Dr. Maiurano gets to know each person along the way, including who needs a little more explanation and who has a question before we've even started. Over the years, we've had the pleasure of caring for parents, their children, and their grandchildren. Each person brings their own questions and gets our individual attention.
Your child's first dental visits
A child's first visits are partly about teeth and partly about getting used to the chair, the sounds, and the people looking in their mouth. We explain what we're doing in words they can understand and keep parents involved. If your child needs more time to get comfortable, we'll talk with you about what would help.
For the parent making the appointment
You know your child. Tell us what helps them feel comfortable with someone new, and what has made earlier visits difficult. If you'd like to discuss being with them during care or a particular sensory concern, ask before the appointment so we can talk through the arrangements. Dr. Maiurano is a parent herself, and she welcomes that conversation.
If your child would be better served by a pediatric dentist or another specialist, she'll explain why and help you arrange the referral. Having a family dentist also means having someone to help you decide when another kind of care would be useful.
Keeping up with everyday care
Regular exams and cleanings give us a chance to see how teeth and gums are doing and talk about what has changed since the last visit. We'll discuss how often to come in based on each person's needs.
Bring the everyday questions, too. A child who resists brushing, a teenager working around braces, or hands that make flossing difficult can call for a different approach at home. Sandra and Dr. Maiurano can help you find a routine that feels manageable.
Your appointment matters, too
It's easy to keep everyone else's checkups on the calendar and let your own slip. When it's your turn, bring the questions you've been putting off. An old filling, a tooth you avoid chewing on, or a change you've noticed in your smile is worth discussing.
Dr. Maiurano will go through what she sees and help you decide what needs attention. If you've been away for a while, here's how we approach coming back.
As the family gets older
Teenagers have their own questions about their teeth, sports mouthguards, and orthodontic care. We talk with them directly. If a brushing or flossing routine isn't working, we'd like to understand what's getting in the way and help them find something they can keep up.
Later in life, the conversation may turn to changing medications, dry mouth, or a partial denture that has become uncomfortable. If you're helping an older family member arrange care, tell us about help they need getting to the chair, hearing an explanation, or remembering instructions. We'll discuss what's possible before the visit and keep the person receiving care involved in the conversation.
Useful family services
- Dental exams and cleanings
- Tooth fillings
- Crowns and bridges
- Athletic mouthguards and nightguards
- Dentures, partials, and repairs
- Dental emergency guidance
If someone in the family is anxious
That can be a child, a parent, or a grandparent. Tell us what worries them and what has helped before. Our dental anxiety page explains how we make room for that conversation.