Dr. Titus sees children who are OVER five years of age.  While our office loves children, we find that children under six years of age need more time and attention than we can provide in our busy, adult practice setting.  A pediatric practice is much better suited to providing the time, attention and special services often needed by the patient under six.

With all patients under the age of eighteen (except for emancipated minors), our office requires that a parent or legal guardian accompany the minor patient for the full duration of the dental appointment.  Should you desire to have a grandparent, aunt, uncle or adult sibling accompany your child to their dental appointment, a limited power of attorney, granting that adult the legal authority to make decisions for the child regarding dental issues, is required.

Our office has this strict policy for several reasons:

1. Federal laws concerning privacy issues require that our office not disclose any medical/dental information of a patient--including those patients under 18 years of age--unless it is the parent or legal guardian of the minor patient.

2. A minor patient cannot consent to any required additional procedures or to changes in a treatment plan.

3.  Should a child need additional procedures during the course of treatment, the minor patient cannot enter into a contract with the dental office to have such work done.

4. Our office will not assume responsiblity for the safety, care or whereabouts of a minor patient once work is complete or before the patient is seated.  An adult caregiver must be present to look after children.

For these reasons, and others, we strictly enforce our minor patient policy and make this policy known on our website, our new patient paperwork, on signs in our waiting area and by other means.  Minor patients who present for an appointment without a proper guardian will not be seen and may encur broken appointment charges for a missed appointment.

Our office can provide parents with a "Limited Power of Attorney" form which you can fill out and have notorized so that a person other than a parent or legal guardian may accompany the child to their appointment.  Once this form is completed, it will be kept in the patient's chart and will remain in force until a written notice is given revoking the document.

Your cooperation with this office policy is essential and much appreciated.