Ideally, it is best to take your child to the dentist between six and twelve months of age. The earlier you begin, the better chance your dentist has to prevent problems. By starting dental visits at an early age, you will help your child build a lifetime of good dental habits.
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While there is no set rule, it is generally recommended that children visit the dentist every six months. The frequency of dental visits will partly depend on your child's eating habits, how clean his or her teeth are kept and whether your child drinks fluoridated water.
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You play an important role in preparing your child for his/her first visit to us. The first visits to the dentist may be the most important in your child's life so we ask that you help by reinforcing our role as a "tooth doctor" who works to keep teeth healthy and happy.
- Be relaxed, your child will sense any anxiety on your part.
- Tell your child that we will "count" and "take pictures" of his/her teeth, and then talk afterwards about it.
- Don't over do it! Don't use words that may create fear in your child such as "hurt, injection, drill, X-ray, or needle".
- Don't relate any negative experiences you may have had as a child, and don't let other people tell your child stories that may provoke fear.
We are specially trained to handle children & you can rest assured we will treat your child as gently as we would treat our own.
- Be relaxed, your child will sense any anxiety on your part.
- Tell your child that we will "count" and "take pictures" of his/her teeth, and then talk afterwards about it.
- Don't over do it! Don't use words that may create fear in your child such as "hurt, injection, drill, X-ray, or needle".
- Don't relate any negative experiences you may have had as a child, and don't let other people tell your child stories that may provoke fear.
We are specially trained to handle children & you can rest assured we will treat your child as gently as we would treat our own.
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We will explain our procedures to your child in easy understandable terms before we actually do it. Remember, we are pediatric dentists, and children are our only patients, ‘first class citizens’ in our office.
At this first visit, we will answer any questions you may have and do a comprehensive examination of your child's mouth. This will include evaluating the supporting structures and the teeth themselves. Your child's bite (occlusion) will also be evaluated. Usually, we will clean a child's teeth at this first visit also. Application of topical fluoride will depend on the child's age and the need for X-rays (tooth pictures) will be determined on an individual basis (not routine). Subsequent appointments may be scheduled for cleaning, fluoride treatments, or other treatments as needed.
Your aim as a parent and ours as a dentist are the same. To keep your child's teeth and mouth in good health and to make the process "painless" for child, parent, and dentist!
At this first visit, we will answer any questions you may have and do a comprehensive examination of your child's mouth. This will include evaluating the supporting structures and the teeth themselves. Your child's bite (occlusion) will also be evaluated. Usually, we will clean a child's teeth at this first visit also. Application of topical fluoride will depend on the child's age and the need for X-rays (tooth pictures) will be determined on an individual basis (not routine). Subsequent appointments may be scheduled for cleaning, fluoride treatments, or other treatments as needed.
Your aim as a parent and ours as a dentist are the same. To keep your child's teeth and mouth in good health and to make the process "painless" for child, parent, and dentist!
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Crying is a normal reaction to almost any kind of anxiety in a young child. New experiences, strange people and places fit in that category for the very young. Please do not let your child's occasional tears upset you as it is very common and we anticipate crying in some small children. The more relaxed we ( parent and dental staff ) are at that time, the sooner the child will overcome his/her anxiety. As a parent myself, I am aware that a crying child is often harder on us parents than the child itself. Trust me on this one! It will go away with time, in some cases it takes several visits, and no harm is done.
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