Our office, as well as the The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Dental Association (ADA), and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), all recommend a dental visit for children by 12 months of age. This goal of this visit is to establish a “dental home”, which is an ongoing relationship between the dentist and the patient, allowing oral heath care to be delivered in a comprehensive, continuously accessible, coordinated, and family centered way.
Bring your smile, but also remember to bring these with you to your child’s first appointment:
- Your completed patient information forms
- Your insurance card
Regular checkups are an important part of maintaining a healthy smile!
The First Visit Starts at Home
- First, be aware of your own fears. It is very important that you do not tell negative stories about your visits to the dentist in front of your child. Children are very perceptive and certain to pick up on your attitude towards the dentist, so remain positive about their appointment.
- Explain to your child things such as “Dr. Amy is going to teach you how to take care of your teeth”, “she will count your teeth using a special tooth mirror”, and “she may take pictures of your teeth to make sure they are healthy."
- There are several books you can read together, such as The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist, Max Goes to the Dentist by Adria F. Kline, and Dora the Explorer, Show me your Smile!. Some find it helpful to play dentist, let your child practice opening wide, letting you look at his/her teeth.
- It is best if you refrain from using words around your child that might cause unnecessary fear, such as "needle", "shot", "pull", "drill" or "hurt". As a pediatric dental office, we are very careful to explain everything to children using words that are pleasant and non-frightening.
What About After My Child's First Visit
Don’t be discouraged if your child cries on the first visit to the dentist. Crying is a normal reaction for some children when faced with a new situation. Remember to compliment your child to others no matter how your child performed during their visit. it is important they feel reassured and positive about their dental experience. The more positive we all make the visit, the more they will want to come back and try even harder next time!
If you get home and realize there was something you forgot to ask, don’t hesitate to call our office. We realize the first appointment can be overwhelming and we want you to feel you have had your questions answered completely.
We strive to make each and every visit to our office a fun one!
