Dental Care

Preparing Your Child for Their First Dental Visit

Dental health is one of those things that you already know is extremely important. And if you’re a parent of a young toddler, you may be wondering at what point you need to start worrying about your child’s dental health. If you want the short answer, it’s right now.

The fact of the matter is that children can start developing cavities as soon as they have teeth. What’s worse is that 42% of children have experienced some form of tooth decay by age 11 despite most of this being preventable by following good dental hygiene and regular trips to the dentist. What’s not helpful is that almost 75% of adults have anxiety about going to visit the dentist, so this affects their children when young and not going to the dentist. It also means the children pick up on what they see and hear, which means if you are anxious about coming to visit the dentist, your children are likely to be as well.

With that in mind, here are 4 suggestions on how to overcome this and make your visit as easy as can be.

Get them in now.

You can schedule a visit for your children as soon as they have teeth, so we suggest doing so as soon as that happens. Your kids won’t get a full exam or x-rays for quite awhile, but as they grow, they will learn about sitting in the chair and having someone look at their teeth. Additionally, dentists can have them sit on your lap to make them more comfortable. Overall, going to the dentist regularly will help acclimate them to the process.

Be prepared.

You usually talk out new and unusual things to your kids about other things in life, right? Try talking about their upcoming dental visit so that they know what to expect. You can read some books or even watch a show about their favorite character getting their teeth examined. Encourage your child to play dentist with their dolls or stuffed animals as well. This is an excellent way for them to learn and overcome any fears.

Bring some patience.

Even if you always have the best intentions in mind for your kids, they may not be willing to cooperate on the first few visits. You might see them cry or fuss or fight, but that’s okay. Dentists understand that children can’t always express their emotions with words. If you get upset, your child will get even more upset, so be the guiding pillar they need when they’re first going to the dentist. Try holding your child’s hand, be prepared to have them sit on your lap in the chair, and follow the dentist’s lead.