The Dentist: How to Introduce Your Child

Encourage all of your family members to visit a dentist to prevent tooth decay. Introduce your children to an oral hygienist at a young age to alleviate apprehension related to visiting this particular professional. Young children are likely to hear stories about losing their teeth. Although many children associate losing their teeth with the fictional tooth fairy, other children might be afraid of the anticipated discomfort associated with losing their baby teeth.

Because many children also learn about dentists in school, you can supplement this education, teaching the child by actually taking the child there. If it is your child's first time visiting this professional, be sure to let the dental office know. The staff is likely to take special care to work make your child feel as comfortable as possible. Some professionals have special techniques they use to make the visit fun for children. You can find offices that have children's activities in which they can interact with a representative who present the positive aspects of good oral care. Children love being able to communicate with their favorite characters. Children who are too young to read might be able to learn from puppets or other characters when they talk about oral care. Sometimes the dental professionals themselves have special meetings with groups of children.

In the dental office, the dentist should be able to communicate effectively to the young child. He or she should be able to ask the child to follow simple directions as well as use medications that are appropriate whenever a drug is used. Discuss the techniques that might be used to alleviate the child's discomfort during the treatment. Some dental professionals are skilled in distracting the child through communication techniques in such a way that the child naturally calms down during the treatment. Ask your friends with children for recommendations if you need a starting place to find some good dental care providers for children. From their recommendations, you should call and visit a few dental care providers and take a look at their offices.

Choose dental care providers who are taking new patients. You might have to call a few offices to find some doctors who are open to new patients. Because it might take some time for you to get an appointment, you should consider planning far in advance, particularly if your children are in school and you would like to schedule the visit for a teacher's work day. On certain days, it might be challenging to get an appointment unless you plan far in advance.

It is important that your children like and feel comfortable at the oral care provider's office. When they like the dentist, they will be more willing to go. Having a positive attitude when it comes to visiting the oral care provider can also help children be more willing to take care of their teeth. They won't want to let their oral care provider down by having bad results from a check-up. Listen to you children and observe how they behave at the office.