Your child's first dental appointment

Many times parents worry about preparing their child for their first dental appointment. But experience shows an interesting pattern. Sometimes the preparation backfires by making the child worried or anxious about the visit. Often, the children who do the best seem to be the ones with the least preparation. When you think about it, this pattern seems to make sense. If parents aren't worried about the visit and treat it as routine, then the children are also likely not to worry about it.

We recommend first seeing children when their baby teeth have all erupted, or are close to being complete. This usually occurs around age three. And if you take your child in for a routine exam at this time, you are well on the way to helping that child develop a healthy attitude toward dental care. This visit can be fun for your child. We will count his or her teeth. If they are willing to accept it, we can do a light cleaning. Dr. Kari Bender loves treating children, and the children typically warm up to her very readily.

If you wait until your child has a dental problem, this first visit could end up being very traumatic for them, and could adversely affect their attitude toward dental care for the rest of their life.

Depending on your child’s age and the personal style of your dentist, your child may sit on our lap or in a chair near you. Some dentists prefer to have you wait in the waiting room for your child. In any case, a big concern during the first visit will be to help your child establish a relationship with the dentist and the staff.

Once your child is settled in, Dr. Bender will examine your child’s teeth and gums in order to make sure that there are no problems. The dentist will look for cavities and may recommend the taking of x-rays. Once the exam is complete, Dr. Bender will talk with you about things you can do to help prevent tooth decay and keep gums healthy. Among the topics that your dentist may discuss are:

• If any fluoride supplements are needed
• The importance of diet to your child’s dental health
• How to help your child keep his or her teeth clean through brushing and flossing
• What to look for in the future with regard to your child’s dental health
• How to schedule future dental visits
• Developmental issues you need to be aware of

You will also have the opportunity to ask any questions you might have regarding your child’s teeth and what you can do to help in the future.

Dr. Bender can help you learn more about how you can work with your child to build oral hygiene habits that will last a lifetime. To set up a consultation for you and your child contact Forth and Bender Dental Arts to find a time that is convenient for you. Call us at 405-341-9351, or visit our make an appointment page.

To learn more about preparing your child for their dental visit click here
To learn more about toothbrushing and flossing for children click here