5 Effortless Ways to Make Your Child’s First Visit to a Pediatric Dentist Exciting

It is essential that you take your child to see a dentist within the first one or two years of their life. This will help to ensure that the oral health of your child is good. A pediatric dentist is different from a general dentist in that the pediatric dentist has two additional years of training to help them deal with the oral health of children.

During your first visit to the doctor, the dentist will do a number of things.

Keep in mind that you might be asked to go in with your child and hold them when the doctor is examining them. Alternatively, you might be asked to wait in the reception area. This helps the child and the dentist to bond and build a healthy relationship.

• The doctor will check for any signs of tooth decay
• They will check the child’s bite
• Check the gums, jaws and mouth for any problems
• Clean the child’s teeth
• Instruct the parents on how to care for their child’s teeth
• Schedule future dental checkups

1. Take them when they are younger

Do not wait until they are older to start taking them to the dentist. The sooner you start seeing a dentist, the sooner they will get used to the idea of a dentist and maintaining good oral health. Therefore, it is essential for you to make your first appointment with a pediatric dentist Aspen Hill Smiles as soon as your child starts getting their first teeth.

2. Find a pediatric dentist

Instead of taking them to a regular dentist, find a dentist who has specialized in taking care of small kids. They have extra training that helps them to understand children’s oral health better. They also have more experience with handling kids and will be able to put your child at ease.

3. Teach them about teeth

Start teaching your kids about teeth even when they are young. This familiarizes them with good oral hygiene. So, before you take them in for their first visit, talk to them about their teeth, mouth and good oral habits. Simply helping them identify their teeth and even tongue creates awareness among kids about their oral issues. You can even use a mouth model to teach them about the mouth and teeth.

4. Let them know what to expect

If your child is old enough to understand you when you talk to them, let them know what to expect at the doctor’s office. This will help to prepare them psychologically for the experience. Explain to them why you are taking them to the doctor and what the doctor is likely to do to them. This will put them in a better frame of mind to handle the situation.

5. Learning through touch

The dentists can let the child touch the various tools that they are going to use to treat them. The doctor can show them to the child and even let him/her touch them.