Achieving Good Dental Health Can Be Easier than You Think

How To Make Your Child's First Visit To The Dentist An Enjoyable One

Most dentists recommend that children see a pediatric dentist within 6 months of the eruption of their first tooth or by 12 months of age. So when it comes to your child's first visit to the dentist, you want to make sure that their first experience with their pediatric dentist is as positive as possible. The following offers plenty of helpful tips that can help make your child's first dental appointment a smooth and worry-free one.

What to Expect on the First Visit

Keep in mind that no dentist is going to break out the drill on the first visit. Instead, you and your child will spend the initial visit getting to know the dentist and the dental office. The initial visit usually starts with a review of your child's medical and dental history, followed by an initial examination of your child's teeth, gums, oral tissues and jaw for any significant issues.

After sharing any significant findings with you, your dentist will then proceed to perform a gentle cleaning of your child's teeth, removing any plaque and tartar buildup encountered during the initial examination. The dentist may also take X-rays of your child's teeth for further examination.

Afterwards, the dentist may recommend further scheduled visits to deal with any significant problems encountered during the initial examination and demonstrate proper teeth-cleaning methods to you and your child.

The initial visit should take no longer than 30 minutes, in most cases, although this usually depends on how well your child cooperates during the visit. Don't forget to bring records of your child's medical history, as this helps the dentist tremendously in assessing your child's dental health.

Making Your Child Feel More At Ease

The key to a smooth first visit involves putting your child's fears about their dental visit to rest. For older children, discussing the visit in positive and upbeat terms is usually enough to help allay any fears or worries they may have. If they're very young, then having a variety of distractions to take their minds off the visit is essential to a successful visit.

The dental office will also do its part to make your child feel more at ease about their visit. The pediatric dental office should have a variety of fun toys and distractions to occupy your child's mind and time as you wait. In most cases, the décor itself is designed to help put young minds at ease over their visit, which can be of tremendous help to you.

Your Own Negative Feelings Can Spoil the Entire Visit

While it's perfectly normal as a parent to have feelings of apprehension or caution about the visit, keep in mind that children can easily pick up on certain emotional cues. Those cues can end up being transferred to the child, meaning that your child can inadvertently share the same feelings about the visit as you.

To keep this from happening, it's important to pay attention to how you react to the visit. Refrain from using terms that may instill feelings of fear and apprehension in your child, including any mentions of pulling or drilling teeth. Remaining positive and upbeat throughout the visit also helps your child feel the same way.

Don't Be Afraid to Reschedule

Sometimes, it's just not possible for your child to be calm or comfortable enough to go through the visit. This is especially true for many younger children who already have a hard time sitting still and remaining calm for long periods. If this is the case for your child, then don't hesitate to reschedule the appointment for a later date. This way, you'll have enough time to get your child at ease about their dental visit and be better prepared for the day in question.

For more tips and ideas, contact a local clinic like Apollo Dental Center


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