Children’s Dentistry and a Child’s First Dental Appointment

Children's dentistry comes with its own set of challenges to overcome. Among these, the most important one with which we could use a parent's help is making a child's first visit as memorable as possible in a good way. The first time a child comes in for children's dentistry is perhaps the most important visit they will ever make. This may seem like a profound statement, but when you consider all the data that suggests how much childhood memories influence adult behavior, it begins to make sense. What the child takes away from this initial visit will remain in their memory for a very long time. In the short term, a good visit will make it easier for the child to come back. In the long term, not having a good visit is one of the major reasons people stop going to the dentist on a regular basis even as an adult.

Of the roughly 45 percent of people who do not see a dentist regularly, a large percentage attribute their unwillingness to seek treatment to a childhood experience. In other words, if they learn trust and confidence on that first visit, then it will remain with them, or if they have fear or anxiety, it could ruin their chances of having good oral health. For parents, this means we require your assistance in making this first visit a great one. Children's dentistry, and the first visit, in particular are greatly influenced by how a parent interacts with the child before, during, and after the visit. For you, the most important thing to remember is that this is not a visit about you, which means you need to mask any anxiety or concerns you may have in order to provide your child with the support they need. If you appear to be calm, collected, and completely at ease, this sends a message to your child that there is nothing to be afraid of despite the strange environment, people dressed in odd clothing, and equipment that makes funny sounds.

Along with children's dentistry providers around the world, we recognize the natural curiosity of children and so recommend you have an age-appropriate conversation with your child about their upcoming dental visit. This conversation can be as long or as short as is needed to get them excited about the visit. To that end, we recommend using upbeat communication so they do feel like going in to see the dentist is an adventure they should be excited to try. Leave the details to us, since we are experienced at phrasing dentistry term in a way that is non-threatening and easily understood. When you get to the clinic, we prefer if you would take a few minutes to talk with your child's new dentist. This allows the provider of children's dentistry to know what your goals are, answer any questions, and address any concerns you may have. Be upfront with your child's dentist if you have dental anxiety, so we know about it and can help you manage it.