Taking Your Kid to a Dentist the First Time
When should my child visit the dentist?
Dentists recommend the child’s first dentist visit to be at around one year old. It may sound a bit early, but teeth problems can begin at a very young age and having an examination of teeth development can prevent future problems for your child. Exams can check for and help parents prevent baby bottle tooth decay and gum disease, so it is a good idea for a child’s first dentist visit to be around one year old.
How to prepare for my child’s visit to the dentist
Remember to bring all the necessary paperwork like your child’s medical history. You want to try to paint the first visit as a positive experience ahead of time and avoid using words like pain, needle, or drill that may make your child anxious. Following these steps will help make your child’s first dentist visit a smoother one.
What to expect on your child’s first dentist visit
Your child’s first visit will probably be to help familiarize him to the dentist. You may have to remain near your child throughout the visit so he can feel comfortable. Depending on how ready your child appears, the dentist may polish the teeth, do an x-ray, remove plaque, tartar build up, and stains, and examine the jaw, gums, teeth, and bite. First visits generally last 15 to 30 minutes.
The next visit
If all goes accordingly on the first visit, the next visit will most likely be in six months. Otherwise, the dentist will require another appointment in a couple of months.
Finding a children’s dentist
It may be wise to find a pediatric dentist instead of a general dentist for your child. Pediatric dentists attended an additional 2 to 3 years of school to learn about child development and psychology. Their office also has equipment made especially for children. However, if you can’t find one, some children do fine with general dentists depending on the work that needs to be done.
If you need help finding a local pediatric dentist, please visit the Kid Dentist Network.
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