Your Child’s First Dental Appointment

Going to the dentist’s office for the first time can be a scary experience for a toddler, especially if he or she is not prepared. Helping your child understand what their first dental appointment will be like is crucial to build a healthy, long-lasting relationship between your family and your family dentist.

Booking the Appointment
Edmonton Dentists recommend that you book your child’s first appointment anytime between the appearance of the first tooth and age 3. A good family dentist will also suggest booking a “practice visit” just so your toddler can get the feel of the office and the staff.

Before you book your appointment, be sure to look for a child-friendly or family dentist that will make your little one feel comfortable. Some dentists specialize in children’s dentistry and may be a better fit than others. Ask other parents who their Alberta family dentists are. Also, make sure you book the appointment for a time in your child’s day that is usually a happy, “awake” time, so they will be in a good mood (hopefully!)

Preparing Your Child
When preparing your child about their visit, there are several tricks you can use to make them feel at ease:

• Buy a book or get a book from the library that covers the topic of going to the dentist. There are several favourite children’s’ characters that are a little scared about their first visits as well!
• Be relaxed and calm about the experience – your child will feed off of your emotions.
• Talk to him or her about the importance of having clean, healthy teeth.
• Get them a brand new toothbrush and teach them how to help you brush.

The Dental Office
At the family dentist’s office, your hygienist and dentist should let you come back in the examination room, just for the first time. Your child’s dentist will look at your child’s bite, count their teeth and do a tooth by tooth exam. They may or may not clean your child’s teeth; it will depend on your child’s age and attention span.

The dentist will also ask you if you have any concerns about your child’s teeth and will probably give you some tips about at-home care for your child’s teeth such as: brushing and flossing, what kind of toothbrush to use, finger and thumb sucking and the effects of your child’s diet on their oral health. Make sure to ask about follow-up visits and how often you should bring your toddler back.

With some proper preparation and some fun techniques, your child will be ready and excited to go for their first visit to an Edmonton dentist.

Lilly Gordon is a freelance web publisher and writer. She researches and writes on a variety of topics, including oral health and Edmonton Dentistry.