Helping Your Child Prepare For their first visit to the dentist
- Always speak positively about dentists and going to the dentist. In spite of any negative encounters that you may have had to experience, your child is going to enjoy coming to our office! Hearing parents, siblings and friends speak negatively, even the slightest comments or tone of voice, makes appointments more difficult for your child. You are your child’s greatest hero and positive role modeling is considered the most important facet to ensuring a positive visit.
- Practice counting your child’s teeth. Let your child know that the dentist will do the same. Lay your child back with their head in your lap. When on their back, have your child practice opening wide for the dentist. Use props such as toothbrushes; spoons make a perfect “dental mirror”. You can even let your child pretend that they are the dentist examining and counting your teeth. In this way, you are providing your child with enough information to prepare for the dental visit and to help quiet their fears, while keeping it simple.
Explain that you think it’s fun to go to the dentist and that having your teeth “polished” feels good to you. By explaining the visit in this way, you help your child better understand the purpose of the visit through your personal experiences. As humans we relate better – even as a child – to this, rather than someone telling us how we are going to feel about the experience. - Let your child know that when you went to the dentist as a child you typically received a special prize from the dentist for cooperating at this visit.
- Trust your pediatric dentist and the dental staff. Your child will sense if you mistrust and will transfer that to their dentist. Be positive, have a positive attitude and look on your face for your child. Remember your dentist and our staff are experts in the pediatric dental arena.
- Reward and praise for every dental appointment. Things like “I’m proud of you, you really tried hard today” or “You did a great job opening wide for the dentist” or “You did a great job listening today”. We all love praise; the more we get the more we want to hear it. The fact that your child wants to please you is your most effective tool in providing your child with a positive dental experience.
- Consider setting up a field trip to visit the dental office. Behind the Smile hosts many after-hours field trips for parent groups, PTA’s, summer day camps and lots of other associations. Contact us to set up a non-threatening group visit to either of our Behind the Smile offices.
Children love to play and pretend. Practicing a visit to the dentist at
home can be a source of pleasure and a wonderful time of togetherness for
you and your child.
After the first visit, offer your child a specific praise about
anything they did well.
