7 Tips To Prepare Your Child For Their First Dental Visit
Written By: Tushya Batra | 24 May 2023
What is more important to a parent than the health of their child? A parent’s top priority is their child’s health and well-being. If your child’s dental health is good, his or her overall health will be good as well. A child should first see their pediatric dentist after the eruption of their first tooth. However, going to the dentist for the first time can be terrifying for a child. How can one expect a child not to be scared when even adults are scared of going to the dentist? Therefore, it can be difficult for a parent to convince their child to visit the dentist, but with some simple and easy tips and tricks, you will be able to convince your child!
Some of the very simple strategies that you can opt for when preparing your child for their first dental appointment are as follows:
1. Introducing Them to Dental Appointments as Soon as Possible:
The ideal age to take your child to their first dental visit is when they turn one or when their first tooth appears. It is critical to bring your child to the dentist as soon as possible because the dentist will detect and treat any early signs of tooth decay or other dental problems that your child may have. Making your child aware of dental appointments as soon as possible will familiarise them with the procedure. This will aid them in their future dental appointments.
2. Telling Your Child on the Same Day:
Their imagination can make the experience frightening. Another option is to keep the dental appointment a secret until the day of the appointment arrives. If they are not aware of the appointment, they are less likely to be anxious about it. It will help the doctor to perform the examination more efficiently and effectively.
3. Talk to Your Child About the Dental Visit:
Talking about the appointment with your child is the most effective and secure way to prepare them for dental appointments. You can explain the dental procedure and what they can expect during the appointment to them while playing with them or feeding them. You can also inform them about the advantages of maintaining good oral health. You can show them the entire experience that will take place during a dental appointment by using pictures and videos.
4.Read a Book to Your Child on Dental Visit:
Reading a book to your child is another excellent way to help them prepare for a visit to the dentist. Books help children understand what happens in dental clinics, which helps them mentally prepare for their first dental visit. Curious George Visits The Dentist by H. A. Rey, Mr. Men Goes To The Dentist by Adam Hargreaves, and The Crocodile and the Dentist by Taro Gomi are some books you can read to your children to help them understand dental appointments.
5.Play Dental Games with Them:
Playing games about dental visits can help the child get a better understanding about the procedure they will be going through. Role playing is the most basic and straightforward game you can play with your kid. You can act like a dentist during the game and let your child be the patient. Take their toothbrush, then pretend to be looking at their teeth. Tell them the value of maintaining good oral hygiene and regular dental visits. Let them now perform the same action with their stuffed animals.
6.Bring Their Favourite Thing/Person with Them:
Bringing their favourite item, such as a favourite toy or a person, such as their grandmother, can help them cope with the dental visit. Being around them will help put them at ease and allow the dentist to examine them more quickly.
7.Take Them to a Trustworthy Dental Clinic:
At Apex Group of Dental Speciality Clinics, we treat your child as if they were one of our own. Our professional pediatric dentist in Dubai handles children with exceptional precision and care. Our dentists and healthcare staff will make sure that your child is at ease during the procedure and they will have a good experience in a friendly environment. We make sure to use cutting edge technology so that your child gets the right treatment with assured results.