Visiting the Dentist – Preparing For Your Child’s First Checkup

Your child’s first trip to the dentist does not have to be a scary, terrifying experience. While no solutions are fool-proof, preparing your child ahead of time can ease some of the anxiety and make the overall visit much more pleasant. Like any other new experience, your child needs to be guided and coached through this new adventure.

One of the most significant ways you can help your child to prepare to visit the dentist is attitude. How you present the fact of going to the dental office will largely affect how your child reacts to it. If you vocalize the apparent drudgery, then your child will notice. However, if you make this an exciting, interesting new phase of life they will feel excited too.

Preparing for dental visits begins early. Establish healthy oral care habits with your child. Teach him to properly care for his teeth and gums. Aid him in learning how to handle a tooth brush. Becoming confident in caring for your teeth is important to good oral health. If your child’s teeth are healthy, then the trip to the dentist will be much less traumatic because there will be far less work to be done.

As the appointment date grows nearer, read books about the dentist to your child. There are many helpful books available at the library or bookstore. You might even call your dental office and ask for recommendations. This approach goes back to attitude, “How are you presenting this new phase?” Try printing a few coloring sheets about teeth or oral checkups. Practice counting teeth on a baby doll or in the mirror. Tell your child (over and over again) how neat and fun it can be to have your teeth polished. Be positive, and you can expect a more positive reaction than you might have thought before.

On the day of the visit, you will want to arrive to the office with plenty of time to check in and get settled. Nothing frustrates a child more than being rushed into something that they cannot control. Also, make sure that the hygienist or other staff knows that this is your child’s first visit. Typically, they will go out of their way to make your child comfortable and make the experience fun and educational.

If for some reason your child still reacts negatively, do not worry or become upset. This will only aggravate the situation. Remain calm and assure your child that you are right there with them. Make a game out of listening to new noises and describing them. Sit next to them and hold their hand, and ask the hygienist to explain each step before it happens. Most of all, do not give up. Be consistent in planning and preparing for future visits. Even the strictest of critics can learn to enjoy something they once despised!