If you’re like many parents of small children, the thought of your child’s first visit to the dentist makes you apprehensive, especially if your own initial dental visits were less than pleasant. However, at Evana Dental Group of Medina, we don’t believe that a childhood encounters with dentists should be viewed as a painful rite of passage to be endured, but rather as the start of a lifetime of good dental health. Our pediatric dental specialists make your children as comfortable as possible, and our child-friendly waiting room is designed to alleviate anxieties for people of all ages.
What You Should Expect From Your Child’s First Visit to the Dentist
Your child’s first visit to the dentist is more of an introductory experience than anything else. The dentist will perform a gentle examination of your child’s teeth and gums, provide age-appropriate oral hygiene recommendations, and identify any existing or potential dental health issues your child may have.
How to Prepare for Your Child’s First Visit to the Dentist
Parents often unwittingly transfer their own nervousness and anxiety about dental issues onto their children, so it’s important not to present a positive face to your child about an upcoming visit to the dentist. If possible, fill out the paperwork for the dentist prior to the visit — many offices offer online resources designed to allow for this. This saves time in the waiting room.
Dentists recommend that children first see a dentist by the age of one year or when the first tooth comes in, which can be as early as six months, and even children of that age can pick up on anxiety. Many parents, however, wait until the child is a toddler or preschooler, and others are still under the misconception that children don’t really need to see a dentist until after their permanent teeth come in. However, primary teeth have a great deal of impact on the future health of permanent teeth.
Please feel free to contact us today for more information or to schedule an appointment for your child.
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