A dental visit can be quite overwhelming for a child as well as the parents. This can be attributed to many reasons – parents’ own negative dental experiences, associating a doctor and doctor’s clinic with injections as most young kids visit their pediatrician for vaccinations (injection), using doctors and dentistry as a threat by the parents, delaying first dental appointment till the child has pain, parental anxiety, etc.
Here are a few things you must consider before taking your child to the dentist for the first time:
1. SCHEDULING THE APPOINTMENT
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that a child should see their Pediatric Dentist once the first tooth erupts in the mouth or no later than their first birthday.
Early, well-baby visits give your Pediatric Dentist a chance to foster a good rapport with the child while giving them a positive dental experience.
Avoid scheduling the appointment during your child’s nap time or meal time so that the child is well-rested and fresh. A sleepy or hungry child can become irritable quickly and might not cooperate for a dental examination.
2. PREPARE
Prepare yourself: It’s important to know that your anxiety or fear towards dental treatment reflects on your child’s behavior and attitude too, so try to stay calm. Choose the best pediatric dentist and an exclusive pediatric setup to make your child more comfortable. Prepare your questions and concerns and discuss them with your kid’s dentist. Most importantly, trust your dentist, stay calm, and patiently listen to the dentist in the clinic.
Prepare the child: Never ever scare your child by taking your dentist’s name as children form a negative impression of their doctor and it becomes difficult to break the ice if they are already scared. Let them have a rough picture of what is going to happen in the clinic. You can show them pictures of the dentist and the dental office, tell them the dentist is going to count your teeth, and wash away the germs. You can also show educational videos on the first dental visit, according to the child’s age. Make sure you reward them for their good behavior at the dentist.
Prepare the dentist: Make sure the dentist knows your chief complaint, your child’s age, your child’s temperament, and if anything should be particularly considered, like medical history, fear, and anxiety.
3. WHILE AT THE CLINIC
The primary motive for the first dental visit would be to make the child comfortable with the clinic’s atmosphere and with the clinician. Most of the exclusive pediatric clinics will be customized in all ways to remove the kid’s anxiety. There will be play areas and audiovisual distractions, which will help both parents and the dentist create rapport with the child.
Your primary concern will be addressed first along with a complete oral checkup. It’s mandatory to inform your dentist if your child has any medical conditions or allergies to any drug. Each appointment will be of 30-45 minutes in duration. Each and every instrument and step will be explained to the kid in detail according to their intellectual level so that he or she will be prepared for the next step. After the examination, further proceedings will depend on your child’s behavior.
The dentist will explain the current situation to you. Sometimes x-rays will also be taken while examining the patient for a proper diagnosis. If your child is cooperative, the treatment can be started on the same day. Usually, procedures like fillings or tooth cleaning are done on the first day to keep the first appointment short and sweet so that the child’s confidence is boosted for further appointments.
If the child is not cooperative, the dentist will explain to you the different sedation techniques necessary to perform dental treatment.
Dentists will also explain the age-appropriate brushing techniques and toothpaste to be used, as well as the necessary dietary changes to be made in detail.
Each appointment ends with positive reinforcement so that the kid will always look forward to the next appointment. It’s very important not to discuss any treatment plans or your concerns in front of the child, as this may cause them to be anxious.
CONCLUSION
First dental appointments are critical in developing a positive dental attitude among children. Make sure you schedule your child’s first dental visit according to recommended guidelines with a Pediatric Dentist to give your child the best dental experience. Do not wait for pain to schedule a dental examination to prevent the association of dentistry with pain.
Aimil Junior Smile with their best pediatric dentists in Delhi, is a one-stop solution for your child’s dental and medical wellness. To make an appointment, get in touch with us at www.aimiljuiniorsmile.com or call us at +91-931-921-2111.