A Child’s First Visit to a Paediatric Dentist
Children’s First Teeth
It may be interesting to know that baby teeth begin developing in the prenatal stage and are hidden beneath the gums before children are born.
Your child’s first tooth will typically pop out when they are around six months old.
Your Child’s First Dental Visit
At what age should a child visit a dentist for the first time?
Parents are recommended to begin dental care for their children even before their teeth appear. You can gently wipe your baby’s gums using a soft gauze pad after feeding.
Arranging a dental appointment at a young age and as early as a child’s first tooth emerge is also an essential step towards good oral health.
Parents are supposed to schedule their children’s first dental visit before they get their first birthday or within six months of primary teeth emerging.
What Is the Significance of Your Child’s First Dental Visit?
Early dental visits are significant even when your child does not have many teeth in their mouth. Early dental appointments can significantly encourage proper oral health habits and prevent future dental problems like tooth decay, dental cavities, etc.
Paediatric dentists can:
- assess your baby’s dental health and development
- evaluate your child’s risk of developing tooth decay or early childhood caries (cavities)
- give parents nutritional advice and tips on fluoride intake
- give parents tips about correct brushing and flossing techniques
- provide parents with valuable information about the prevention of poor oral habits such as thumb-sucking or tongue thrusting
Dental visits at a young age can:
- Help kids get to know their specialist paediatric dentist, dental chair, and dental environment in general.
- Prepare children for their regular dental check-ups.
- Help a child avoid dental fear or deal with anxiety at a young age.
How Often Should Children Visit The Dentist?
The Australian Dental Association recommends that everyone visit their dentist every six months, including young children.
What to Expect on your Child’s First Visit?
The first dental visit is typically simple and will not take long.
Here is what you can expect when your child visits a dentist for the first time:
- The visit involves the child’s dentist building a positive rapport with the young patient.
- The dentist may ask the parents to provide a full medical history of the child.
- In the case of very young children, the dentist may ask one of the parents to hold the child while the dentist examines the child’s mouth.
- The dentist may ask the parent or the legal guardian to stay in the waiting room in the case of older children.
- Depending on the child’s age, the visit may also include a gentle cleaning of the child’s teeth.
- The paediatric dentist will conduct a comprehensive dental exam and examines the children’s teeth, gums, jawline, bite, and dental development.
- In the end, the dentist will discuss the state of the child’s dental health with the parents and explain prevention strategies at home for good oral health.
Parents can discuss any questions or concerns regarding their babies’ dental health and development.
How Long Will Your Child’s First Dental Visit Take?
The first visit will usually take about 30 or 45 minutes.
Can I Take My Child to a General Dentist?
Brisbane Specialist paediatric dentists and oral health therapists are trained to provide dental care for children from infancy through the teenage years.
Paediatric dentists have special training in child development and behaviour and are better at dealing with kids with special needs.
A paediatric dentist can also handle kids with dental fears or anxiety better than a general dentist.
A child-friendly and kid-oriented dental office rather than a general dental office can also come a long way in making your child feel comfortable during their first dental visit.
Tips to Help Young Patients Stay Calm During a Dental Appointment
How to prepare for your child’s dental visit?
While most children get cranky about going to the doctors or dentists, there are ways to ensure these visits run smoothly.
Prepare the Child!
When you go to your family dentist, take your child with you so that they can see dental visits are normal and everyone goes to the dentist.
Older siblings who are not afraid of the dentist or dental procedures can also be good role models. You can bring younger children to observe their siblings and get used to dental appointments.
A rule of thumb? Stay Calm!
If you have dental phobia or anxiety, try not to show it or talk about it when your child is around.
Controlling your anxiety and staying calm on the day of the appointment can make your child feel less nervous.
Children can tell when their parents are nervous, and since anxiety seems contagious, it can make the appointment a stressful experience for everyone!
Practice at home!
To familiarize your child with the dentist and dental procedures, you can role-play at home.
You can take the role of the dentist and ask your child to open their mouth. Start counting the child’s teeth and tell them the dentist will do the same. Explain to your child that they should keep their mouth open and let the dentist check their teeth and gums.
You can also seek help from your child’s toys and involve them in the game. The child can also play the role of the dentist.
Schedule morning appointments!
Children tend to cooperate better if they have already eaten and do not feel sleepy. That’s why we suggest you arrange morning appointments for your child if that matches your schedule.
Videos or books!
Sometimes the fear of the unknown can make your child afraid of the dentist or become cranky.
Watching some videos and reading books about going to the dentist may help the kids feel less anxious about the visit.
Be careful about your words!
Children can be very sensitive about hearing some words like a needle, hurt, bleeding, or pain. Be careful not to use such words when your kid is around.
Why Are Regular Check-ups Important?
Regular dental checkups will help the dentist:
- spot any oral health concerns early
- prevent dental problems
Regular dental visits can also decrease the need to visit an emergency dentist or address orthodontic problems before they grow.
