Taking the Fear out of Children's Dentist Visits Starts at Home

From the day your child's very first tooth sprouted, you have been strict about making a regular dental care routine part of his or her lifestyle. Even before they could chew solid foods, you have been reminding your children to brush and floss twice daily. But while effective children's dental care begins at home, there will be the inevitable visit to the dentist. It's up to you as parents to make your son's or daughter's experience at the dentist's office enjoyable, or at least tolerable, in order to instill a lifelong pattern of regular oral care.

The twice daily brushing and flossing routine needs to be as habitual for the child as putting on clothes in the morning and pajamas at night. Both parents can contribute to healthy habit forming by being present, and occasionally engaging in the activity when possible. Instructing your children from an early age that brushing and flossing is part of the normal morning and bedtime routine ensures that they place an importance on the practice throughout their lifetimes.

As a rule of thumb, you should plan on scheduling your child's first dentist visit around the age of 18 months or six to ten months after the first tooth comes in. Choosing a practitioner is a key decision that can affect your child's impression for years to come if undertaken casually. Of course, you will want a specialty children's dentist or at least one that provides care for the entire family. It's wise to search through patient review websites to find out the experiences of other parents, and you can ask friends and family for recommendations.

In advance of the first visit, prepare your child by reading books and watching videos that are age appropriate and geared towards the experience. Continue with the brushing routine, and possibly massage the gums a few times a day to make the child feel at home with having someone examine their mouth. For older children who understand, discuss the upcoming visit in a positive light and mention a fun activity for after the appointment. If you can, make an appointment for yourself just prior to the child's so that you can show him or her firsthand that there is no need to be afraid.

It's not likely that there will be any real treatment taking place at this first visit, but the dentist will want to check his or her bite, note any signs of tooth decay and offer advice on proper nutrition. In most pediatric dentist practices, the parents will be present in the exam room with young children to make them feel more comfortable.