Our First Pedia Dentist Visit
- Mommy Kitkat
- Nov 23, 2020
- 3 min read
I postponed it long enough. My little boy was due for his fluoride treatment and teeth cleaning a few months back, but the lockdown happened. When GCQ was finally announced, I contemplated delaying the appointment some more, but I noticed a few stains already on his teeth (click here to see common causes of teeth stains). My own dentist was still not accepting patients, so I searched online for dental clinics that were open…
Family dentist... Makati... ang layo.
Pediatric dentist... hmm... BGC... Cubao... uy, pwede na!
Enter... Oh who is she?
A mommy dentist... someone I can relate to.
The Pedia Dentist
I found Dra. Pritzi Arce on Facebook. I saw that her social media page was dedicated to sharing her knowledge on oral health & hygiene for kids.
During ECQ, she would do FREE online consults to help and support parents and their kids’ dental concerns. She even highlighted their strict safety and health protocols in both her clinics (a definite plus)!
I reached out to her and immediately liked her vibe. She was responsive, thorough and friendly. She answered all my questions and concerns and even gave me some practical tips.
The online consultation felt more like I was talking to a mommy friend than a typical doctor-patient exchange.
Preparation before the visit
The next step was preparing Caleb for his first official dental appointment. We tried different things for the two weeks leading up to the visit:
We mentioned the dentist’s name over and over again. We called her Tita Doc Pritzi so it would be less formal; “Tita” is also a more familiar term for Caleb
We kept prompting him “What will we do when we visit Tita Doc in her office?” He would answer:
“Caleb sit in chair!”
“Tita Doc say ‘open your mouth, show me your teeth!’”
“Tita Doc brush Caleb’s teeth!”
We always reminded him that because he’s a “big boy who has plenty of teeth” already, it’s time to visit the dentist
We showed him videos of toddlers going to the dentist (so he would have an idea of what would happen)
We told him that Tita Doc will be dressed like a “superhero” and you might not see her face (para hindi siya magulat na naka-full PPE & mask)
Our Appointment
DID OUR PREPS WORK?
NO.
HAHA. But at least we tried, right?
The moment we arrived, he cried NON-STOP, and no amount of distractions, bribery or any other diskarte would work.
Dra. Pritzi and her assistant, on the other hand, were very patient and calm the whole time. Sanay na sanay sila dealing with children. She explained that the cleaning and treatment would be a very quick procedure, so she asked for Daddy D’s help in holding Caleb. When it was done, she rushed to a corner of her clinic, grabbed a big bag full of toys and told Caleb to choose his prize.
When we went to the lobby to settle the payment, Caleb finally calmed down and stopped crying. Tita Doc reassured him and talked to him -- “Friends tayo, diba? You’re okay?”
On our way out, Caleb waved goodbye, smiled and gave a flying kiss.
Health and Safety Protocols
The clinic has very strict COVID prevention measures. Everyone is required to wear face masks the entire time. Only one patient (and their parent companion/s) is allowed in the clinic during the scheduled time slot. If you arrive early, or if Doctora is still finishing up with a previous patient, you have to wait outside or in your car.
Upon entering the clinic, the assistant took our temperature and sprayed alcohol on our hands. The clinic was also equipped with a UV air purifier. I also noticed that Doctora changed her full PPE after her previous patient and before she approached us.
Fees
As expected, a specialist’s fees are pricier than going to a general dentist. We paid Php1,350 for the prophylaxis and Php1,000 for the fluoride treatment. Understandably, there were charges for PPE and other anti-infection / sanitation measures as well (Php 500).
Location
Based on her social media page, Dra. Pritzi has 2 clinics -- Cubao and BGC.
You can message her FB Page directly if you are interested in booking an appointment.
When it comes to scheduling a dental check-up for your kids, you can opt to visit a general or “family” dentist, too! That’s completely your choice and preference. :)
But for those moms who are considering taking their kids to a pediatric dentist, I would highly recommend Dra. Pritzi Arce.
Note: This is NOT a sponsored post. I paid the full price for dental fees/charges. I do not receive any commission or discounts for sharing this content nor for referrals to Dr. Pritzi Arce and her clinics.
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