Your child's first visit
Making your first trip to the dentist a fun one
Taking care of your child’s teeth and oral health is important to lifelong oral care, which is why it’s essential to create positive experiences during early dental visits. Here at Design Dentistry, we call your kid’s dental appointments Happy Visits because our focus is to introduce your child to a happy, welcoming environment at our clinic. You can also help set your child up for success by following these six helpful tips.
1. Be positive
Your child will model your attitude and emotions. Before and during the visit, stay positive. Don’t share your anxiety about the dentist, don’t bribe your child, and don’t use a dental visit as a punishment.
2. Set a good example for oral hygiene at home
You are your child’s role model—be a good one with oral hygiene! Brush and floss your teeth with your child twice a day. You can also control the frequency and quality of snacks and talk positively about visiting your dentist with your kids. Your positive outlook will help them be enthusiastic about their next visit to the dental office.
3. Make the first visit an adventure
Get creative and make the first dental visit an adventure! Borrow a book from the library with engaging pictures about dental visits to help your child understand what to expect and why a visit to the dentist is important. You can also consult pediatric dentist resources for parents online. There are many websites with great worksheets, colouring pages, and more.
4. Don’t overexplain the visit
It’s natural for children to be curious about what happens at the dentist’s office. It’s best to focus on a general explanation of how caring for our teeth and gums is vital to our overall health and well-being. Try not to overexplain anything or mislead them. Avoid using words like needle, x-ray, drill, pain or hurt. We also recommend avoiding statements such as “Don’t worry, the dentist won’t hurt you.” —as this can plant a seed that creates anxiety and causes children to focus on the word hurt, rather than your reassurance.
5. Allow your child to go into the operatory alone if they are comfortable doing so
We set aside ample time for a Happy Visit on your first dental appointment. While we understand that you may wish to accompany your child and share their first dental experience, however, it can be difficult to establish a channel of communication when a child is distracted by a parent or siblings. That distraction can undermine the trust we are trying to build. We will invite you to participate in the point of discussing any findings and to demonstrate to your child how well they did.
If your child’s anxiety about proceeding alone is concerning, you are certainly welcome to accompany them. Having a parent nearby can be reassuring, especially for young children. We may ask, however, that you be a silent partner and allow our staff to gain your child’s trust and confidence. Sometimes allowing a younger child to watch an older sibling in the chair can help to dispel fear.
6. Coping behaviour of children
A child’s reaction to the unknown can be unpredictable. Fear and insecurity can lead to perceived bad behaviour, but in reality, it’s usually avoidance behaviour we’re seeing, and it’s no reason for surprise or embarrassment. If allowed the opportunity, children often overcome their fear and take great pride in having a successful visit from which they leave with a big smile. A great toy as a reward also helps, and we’ve got you covered!
