The First Time

Life is full of firsts: the first day of school, the first kiss, the first child. “Firsts” come with their own set of anxieties. And so it likely will be the first time your child comes into the office.

Schedule your child’s first dental visit when your child is 6 months to 1-year old. It is extremely important to check those erupting teeth. They are prey for decay as soon as they pop through the gums.

Childhood tooth decay statistics are discouraging. More than 40 percent of children have tooth decay by the time they begin kindergarten.

We will tell you what to expect the first dental visit. In turn, you need to let your child know what we will do in the office. Then, your child won’t be surprised or startled.

Show excitement as you explain different things that happen during the exam. Then, consider what you will need to do if your child is apprehensive in the office. The key is for you to show patience and remain calm. This way your child won’t pick up on and react to your own anxiety. Sometimes our best-laid plans don’t work out and the child is too frightened or apprehensive. Then, we will simply reschedule the appointment.

We may need to schedule more than one short appointment to help build your child’s confidence and trust. We like to schedule their appointments early in the day before they become tired and restless.

Depending on how old your child is, we will examine the teeth, oral tissues, jaw and bite. We look for issues with bite or bone growth. Then, we might do a gentle cleaning to remove any plaque or stains. We’ll also polish the teeth.

In some situations, we might need to take x-rays.

We will also consider whether it is time to perform fluoride treatment.

Lastly, your hygienist will show you and your child how to take care of those teeth at home. It is important to begin a regular oral care routine early. We don’t want your child becoming one of those 40 percent children with decay.

Use a clean, damp cloth to clean your child’s gums after each feeding or meal. Once the teeth begin erupting, brush them with a soft toothbrush and water.

If you have an older child, let the child brush his/her teeth. Then, you brush the teeth. This helps the child gain confidence in doing the routine alone some day. With consistent instruction, your child should be able to brush alone by 5 years of age.

Also, let your child watch while you brush your teeth. This helps to reinforce the importance of brushing. Your good example will pay off in the future.

Give us a call and schedule an appointment. You can rest assured that we will try to make your child’s first visit to our office pleasant and UNEVENTFUL.