How To Have An Easy First Dental Visit With Your Child

The dentist office can be a stressful place for parents and children, especially if it is your child's first dental visit. The sounds of the drills, powered tooth brushes, and suction can be overwhelming and scary if they don't know what these tools are and how they are used.

Dental care is an important part of your child's health and as soon as your child gets most, if not all, of their baby teeth they should start going to the dentist for regular check-ups and cleanings. My children's hygienist said that they should start going between the ages of two and three years of age. It is vital to keep their baby teeth healthy because they will have an effect on your child's adult teeth. If your child's baby teeth have allot of decay and are in poor condition the likelihood of your child's adult teeth being in poor condition increase.

Many parents avoid bringing their children to the dentist early because they either 1) think that the child may not understand what the hygienist or dentist wants them to do; or 2) may have a child who frightens easily and fears that the child may have an outburst. I myself am one of those parents. I didn't start taking my oldest son to the dentist til he turned 6. He has ADHD and I was afraid that he would have a "melt down" at the dentist office and I just didn't want to be embarrassed. When I did take him for his first dental visit, I had nothing to worry about. The hygienist was a big help in getting him to feel comfortable. She took her time and explained what everything was and how she was going to use it. She showed him on his finger that the tooth brush tickled and did not hurt and that the water gun sprayed water and the suction straw sucked up that water. She even let my son hold the straw while she brushed his teeth. When she was done, the dentist came in and checked over his teeth and let him know that he had NO CAVITIES! They took his picture and put it on the wall of kids who had no cavities and let him pick a prize out.

When it came time for my three year old to have his first dental visit, both he and I were prepared because I had been bringing him with me when I would take my oldest to the dentist. He got up in the chair opened his mouth, let them take the x-rays and the hygienist went over the routine of showing him how everything worked. After he was done, with NO CAVITIES, they let him pick out a prize.

The tips I have are just out of my own experience as a parent. I believe if you follow them then you and your child will have a great experience for the first dental visit. So here they are:

1) Make an appointment to meet the hygienist. During this visit, just have her go over the instruments that she will use with your child. This will allow your child to see the instruments for the first time and see that they are not scary after all. This visit will be more of an "ice breaker" for your child and the hygienist so no cleaning this visit.

2) Make your actual cleaning appointment. This visit should be made for a day or two after your child meets the hygienist. Your child will be familiar with the hygienist, the instruments she will be using and with the office staff. It will be a less intimidating place and your child will be more likely to cooperate with the hygienist.

3) This was a hard one for me but it has to be done. Parents stay in the hallway where you can still see your child but your child can't really see you. If you are in the room with your child it tends to make them nervous and all the hard work preparing your child for the first visit will be ruined. They will be just fine without you.

4) Bring one of your child's favorite toys with him/her to the visit. When your waiting in the hallway it is comforting to have something familiar that they can hold while the hygienist cleans their teeth.

5) Talk to your child before they meet the hygienist and let them know that the dentist isn't a scary place.

6) Once your child is done with their visit, take them to the dollar store to pick out a prize for being brave or take them for a small treat. This will help make your child will feel special.

Once your child has had their first dental visit, don't forget to bring them back every 6 months. Regular check-ups and cleanings are an important part of dental care and remember the dentist office doesn't have to be a scary place, for you or your child.