The
thought of taking your child for his or her first dental visit may
bring on feelings of nervousness or fear for both the child and the
parents. The first visit to the dentist can be scary for some
children, so you should know what to expect before you take your
child for his or her first appointment.
Above
all, you as the child's parent should enter the situation with as
much calmness as possible, even if you are not feeling calm on the
inside. The following are some things your child may experience at
the first dental visit.
When
you first go into the examination room, you will likely have a meet
and greet with the dentist and the hygienist. At this time, the
dentist will talk to you about each step of the exam and what he or
she will be doing. The dentist will show your child the tools used
during the exam and explain what the exam is for.
The
dentist will also take a brief history of your child's oral health.
He or she will ask questions, such as whether or not your child used
a pacifier as a baby, if your child was breast- or bottle-fed,
whether or not the child sucks a thumb, and any other pertinent
questions regarding your child's oral development.
If
your child seems especially nervous or unwilling to cooperate, be
sure to ask if your child can sit on your lap during the exam. Also,
if your child has a special comfort item, such as a blanket or
stuffed animal, be sure to bring it along to help keep your child
calm.
Most
first dental exams are brief and only include the examination of the
teeth. The dentist will count the child's teeth to determine if more
teeth still need to erupt, look for decay in the teeth, check the
child's bite, and check for any problems with the jaw and gums.
The
dentist or dental hygienist may also clean the teeth with a rotary
toothbrush or polisher. This part of the exam may be scary for some
children due to the noise. You may want to bring headphones for the
child to listen to music to help drown out the noise of the polisher.
If
your child still seems anxious, the dentist or hygienist will again
show how the polisher works to ensure the process will not hurt.
After
the examination, the doctor will inform you of any concerns he or she
may have about your child's oral development. If decay is present or
the dentist needs to perform other treatment, the dentist will have
you make a follow-up appointment to take care of those issues. This
is also the perfect time for you to ask any questions you may have
about your child's oral health.
Additionally,
the dentist will go over some basic oral care guidelines with your
child. Using words a child can understand, the dentist will talk
about the importance of keeping the teeth clean, the why of avoiding
sugary snacks, and other important parts of good oral hygiene. The
dentist may also use pictures or models of teeth to help educate your
child on good oral hygiene.
The
first dental visit should be as stress-free as possible so your child
can acclimate to dental cleanings. If you have any questions or would
like to have a dentist examine your child's teeth, please
contact Michael
G. Landy DDS.
We begin seeing children at age four, which is a great age to
introduce a child to the importance of healthy teeth and good oral
hygiene.
