Taking children to doctors and dentists can be stressful for parents and kids alike. As a parent, you know understand how vitally important it is to have your child’s teeth checked regularly for good oral health. When it comes to your child’s teeth, not just any dental office in Waimea will do – you should make sure that the dentist is reputable, and has experience dealing with children.
What to expect
Ideally, the first visit should occur once the first tooth has made an appearance. This is usually around 6 months of age. Your dentist will check your child’s mouth to make sure that everything is progressing normally, and will advise you of any potential problems. At this stage, no x-rays or other procedures will be done; this is simply a visual inspection of your baby’s mouth and gums.
At this stage, your baby probably won’t show any signs of stress or discomfort being in the dentist’s office.
If you take your child every six months to the dentist, they will come to get used to the visits, and will learn to trust your dentist. This will make each visit less stressful for both of you.
If your child’s first dental visit occurs when they are older – say 4, or 5, then they may be a bit anxious. In this case, if you let your dentist know ahead of time, he can make the first visit much more pleasant by letting your child sit in the big chair and look at some of the tools; letting them ‘explore’ as it were will help lessen any anxiety or tension. This first visit will typically involve visual exams only, no drills or needles.
Contact us for more information about your child’s first dental visit and how we help make it a less frightening experience.
