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5 Ways To Help Make Your Child's First Dental Appointment A Good Experience

2 September 2016

Oscar Allen

Your child's first dental appointment can be a great experience, but you have to prepare in order for your little one to enjoy his or her first visit to a dental office. Here are a few measures you can take to ensure that your youngster's first appointment is pleasant:

Start showing your child pictures of dentists and dental tools.

If your child is already familiar with the concept of a dentist and dental tools, he or she will be less afraid during the appointment. A tool that adults have grown accustomed to, such as a dental probe, may seem scary to a child who has never seen one.

Photos of dentists, dental offices and dental apparatus can easily be found online. As you view the images with the child, explain the items in the photos and how they are used.

Choose a dental office that has kid-friendly decorations.

Some dental offices can appear cold and clinical. This may be fine for adults, but for a child, it can be alarming. By selecting a dental office adorned with animated characters that your child is accustomed to, you can ensure that your child feels comfortable at his or her first appointment.

Some dental offices even have activities for young children, such as coloring pads and games, to help keep kids occupied as they await their appointment.

Allow your child to meet the staff ahead of time.

Take your child by the dental office ahead of time to meet the staff. For a child, it can be overwhelming to meet many new adults at once. Allowing your child to meet the staff before the actual appointment can minimize the new experiences of the first visit.

Take your child to one of your dental appointments.

By seeing you receive dental care, your child can get a better understanding of how dental services are performed. He or she will also see that you are unharmed during the appointment. This can reassure the youngster that nothing bad will happen during the child's appointment.

Ask your dentist to narrate the service being performed, such as a dental cleaning. This will help your little one better understand what is occurring and how it affects the teeth and gums.

Bring your child's favorite toy or stuffed animal to the first appointment.

Having a bit of home with him or her can help your child feel more comfortable.

For more ways to help your child feel more comfortable during a first dental appointment, talk to a pediatric dentist like Marci Mendola-Pitcher DDS in your area.

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