How Do I Prepare My Child for Their First Dentist Visit?
At Fabulous Dentistry in Houston, we want every child’s trip to the dentist to be one that’s calm, comfortable, and positive. If it’s the first time you’re bringing your child in for a checkup, there are some important things to keep in mind to ensure it’s a success.
Leave Your Own Feelings at the Door
Many adults have some type of phobia or fear of the dentist. It’s easy for children to feed off of this anxiety and in turn, feel scared at their own checkup. To break the cycle for your child, it’s important to only talk about “the dentist” in a positive light. Avoid describing the visit with words like “drill”, “shot”, or “hurt”, even if it’s something you say isn’t going to happen. More often than not, those negative words can become your child’s perception of what’s going to unfold.
Play Dentist When You’re at Home
Get a flashlight, toothbrush, and maybe even some latex gloves from the drug store. Have your child lay their head in your lap as you point the flashlight at their smile to count their teeth, touching the toothbrush handle on one tooth at a time. Next, let your child to the same to your own teeth! Talk about how dentists are tooth doctors who make sure your smile is healthy and strong.
Watch Videos or Read Books
It’s easy to find YouTube videos on trips to the dentist so that your child can see other children riding up and down in a chair, opening their mouths, or a hygienist polishing their teeth. Reading books about the dentist in the 2-3 weeks leading up to the appointment can make their visit one that feels completely natural.
Schedule Early, When Your Child is Young
More often than not, kids don’t see a family or pediatric dentist until there’s something wrong with a tooth. If your child has a cavity or is in pain, there’s a chance they’ll associate the dentist with something that’s uncomfortable.
Instead, schedule preventative checkups and cleanings every six months, as soon as your child’s first teeth come in. The earliest visits will simply be a checkup and informative session, providing us with opportunities to screen for issues before they have the potential to become more complex.
Visit the Office Ahead of Time
To help your child feel comfortable with visiting the dentist, ask about popping in for a quick tour a few days ahead of the appointment. Getting to meet some of the staff and see what the office has to offer kids can help your children feel more energetic about their upcoming visit.
We’ll do the Rest!
Working with children and anxious patients is something our Houston dentist does daily. Dr. Garcia is extremely attentive to the needs of your child and will work to ensure they feel relaxed during their visit. When you let us explain things as we go, you can feel confident knowing that the appointment will flow as smoothly as possible.
Contact our Houston family dentist today to request your child’s first checkup!
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