If you are gearing up for your kids’ first dental appointment or are familiar with the tears and heartache it brings, fear not because there is help at hand. This is an extremely common problem and can be fixed by familiarising yourself with a number of handy tips and tricks. Continue reading to find out how to prepare your kids for a dental check-up.
Schedule the appointment for a time that suits them
The best dentist for children is a pediatric dentist because they are specialised in providing dental treatment for kids and baby teeth. As a parent, you will be aware of much your kids’ moods can fluctuate throughout the day. As a result, you should also be aware of when they are likely to tolerate a dental check-up and when it may trigger a full-blown tantrum in the waiting room. If your kids are young, it may benefit you to schedule an appointment with a pediatric dentist Brisbane based in the morning when they are happy and attentive.
If your kids are older, the early afternoon may be the best time for them, and you. When it comes to their first dental check-up, you should avoid scheduling an appointment for later in the day if and when you can as they are more likely to be tired and irritable. If they have expressed anxiety or worry about their first dental check-up, this is a recipe for disaster.
Bring their favourite toys with you
If your kids have never experienced the dentist, they are likely to be scared, worried, and unsure of what to expect. This is completely normal. However, by bringing their favourite toys with you, they can cling to a shred of familiarity and be reassured that they are not alone. If they are particularly upset, however, and your pediatric dentist has experienced this situation several times in the past, they may also demonstrate what they will do to your kids on their toys. This is a foolproof way of reassuring them that nothing bad will happen and that if their toy is brave enough to survive the procedure, so are they. If you forget to bring their favourite toys with you, a dentist Brisbane based will be equipped with a waiting room jam-packed with a wide range of toys and activities to keep them busy and preoccupied.
Dental Check-Up – Don’t hype it up
When it comes to your kid’s first dental check-up, sometimes it can be better to say nothing at all. If you, as a parent, also suffer from anxiety when it comes to visiting the dentist, these fears can be inadvertently passed on to your kids when you discuss their upcoming appointment. They may not necessarily voice their opinions, but children are adept at picking up on feelings of concern or unease. It may only damage their current expectations of visiting the dentist for the first time. As well as excelling in their chosen field, a growing number of dentists are also given specialist training to provide treatment specific to children. They can identify nervous patients and talk to them using specific keywords or phrases to alleviate their worries and allow them to proceed with the appointment. It may sound like it would achieve the opposite effect, but several kids also take comfort and reassurance in knowing what is likely to happen during their appointment from start to finish. This is because they are not necessarily afraid of the dentist but rather the unfamiliarity of what is likely to happen to them and their teeth while they are there.
Dental Check-Up – Bring them with you to your appointments
If you are preparing for your kids’ first dental check-ups, you can bring them with you to your appointments. This can allow them to familiarise themselves with the environment and even meet the dentist present at their first appointment. When it comes to kids and dentists, damage control can go a long way in turning a situation into something that fills your kids and you with dread to a pleasant experience with minimal drama from start to finish. By knowing what to expect, they are less likely to fear their first appointment when the day finally arrives, and you can promote the importance of good oral hygiene from the very onset.
To grow and develop, kids must undergo some firsts during their early years. A dental check-up tends to be a biggie. But there are many steps you can take to prepare your kids for their first trip to the dentist. This includes scheduling the appointment for a time that suits them, bringing their favourite toys with you, not hyping it up, and bringing them with you to your appointments.
Leave a Reply