The College of Paediatric Dentistry recommends that children visit the dentist when their first tooth appears or no later than their first birthday.
While it may sound early, starting at this age will put your baby on the path to good oral health and prevent many of the dental problems that may arise in childhood.
The first visit gives parents the opportunity to receive education on how to properly care for their child's teeth and gives the child the opportunity to adapt to the dental environment at a very young age.
What to expect
At the first visit, the dentist will examine your baby's mouth to make sure everything is growing and developing properly, and to check for tooth decay, tongue-tie and any signs of injury.
Your dentist will usually tell you everything you need to know to keep your child's teeth healthy, including:
1) What kind of toothpaste and toothbrush to use.
2) Tips for brushing and flossing.
3) How to relieve teething discomfort.
4) What foods and drinks can cause tooth decay.
5) Answer questions about using a pacifier and sucking your thumb.
The inspection and cleaning itself may only take a few minutes, but most of the time is spent making the child feel comfortable and educating the parents.
You shouldn't expect the entire visit to take a long time.
The inspection and cleaning itself may only take a few minutes, but most of the time is spent making the child feel comfortable and educating the parents.
You shouldn't expect the entire visit to take a long time.
Choose a dentist
The first step is to find a pediatric dentist for your child.
Pediatric dentists also undergo two to three years of training after dental school, during which time they conduct extensive research on child development, behavior management of patients from infancy to adolescence, and how best to work with children with special needs.
The goal of most pediatric dentists is to provide a fun environment with toys, stickers, televisions, games, delicious toothpaste, and staff who enjoy working with children.
When children are having fun, they develop trust in the dentist and staff, and often enjoy the visit and look forward to the next appointment.
Be prepared for your child's visit
When you've decided on an office, call them to schedule a visit.
Young children tend to do their best in the morning when they are energetic and energetic.
Avoid scheduling appointments later in the day or close to naptime, as the child may be groggy or cranky at this time.
You can ask if you and your child can visit the clinic and meet with the doctor before the day of the test.
If your child has any special needs, please discuss them with the staff who arranged your appointment.
The dentist will usually need to schedule some extra time for this.
If there's something special that keeps your child calm and happy (a song they like to listen to, a ** they like to watch, or just a color they like), let the dentist know so they can try to include it in their appointment.
Mental preparation
Once you've scheduled your appointment, start getting ready for your child's visit.
Children learn best when they play. You can practice Xi inspecting their stuffed animals with a toy mirror.
Your child can bring the same stuffed animal to the dentist for an examination. Read to them.
Put them at ease
When talking to your child about their upcoming visit to the dentist, you can reassure them that there will be no injections at the visit, that the dentist will only check and brush their teeth, and talk to them about how to keep their teeth healthy.
Let them know that the dentist will show them all the tools and explain all the procedures before they start.
If they need a little extra motivation, you can also plan some treats (not candy or junk food), such as going to the park or toy store.
Follow-up visits are expected
Once you've completed your first visit, it's time to start preparing for your child's second visit!Talk to your child about the visit and remind them of the positive things that happened, such as:
Nothing hurts.
The toothpaste tastes great.
The toothbrush is itchy.
The dentist counted all your teeth, and now we know how many teeth you have.
At the end of the day, you'll get a prize and a new toothbrush.
Next time we go there we will get these fun prizes again!
As a parent's preparation
To prepare, please be on time and, if possible, a few minutes in advance, fill out any registration and consent forms that may be required.
Many offices have registration forms on their **, so you can fill them out in advance.
Provide your dentist with a complete health history of your child.
If your child is taking any medications, prepare a list of medications and dosages. Provide contact information for your child's pediatrician.
If you have any specific questions that need to be addressed by your dentist, write them down so you don't forget to ask them if they don't bring up these topics.
Be patient
It is also important to have reasonable expectations for your child.
During the visit, some children may be willing to open their mouths and enjoy the experience, while others will not, just as some children don't like to get a haircut or wear a seat belt.
Fortunately, each visit can become easier and more enjoyable by being prepared and adhering to a regular recall schedule (usually every six months).
Many children who may feel scared or anxious at first become fond of going to the dentist after a few visits.