How To Make Your Child's First Trip To The Dentist A Success
Have you finally decided that it is time to take your child to the dentist for the first time? If so, you may have concerns about how the visit is going to go. Here are some tips you can follow to make sure that the visit goes smoothly.
Visit A Pediatric Dentist
One of the best things that you can do is take your child to a pediatric dentist. While the actual process of inspecting and cleaning your child's teeth can be done by a general dentist, a pediatric dentist has expertise in working with kids.
The first thing that you will notice is that the facility is geared towards kids. The waiting room is going to be friendly and colorful, with toys and books to read while your child is waiting for their turn to see the dentist. The actual exam room will also look more friendly, with there being things on the walls and ceilings to act as distractions. Some pediatric dentists even have a TV set up so that your child can watch cartoons while they have their teeth cleaned.
Read About The Dentist
A great way to let your child know what to expect is to borrow some books from the library about going to the dentist. There will likely be books that use child friendly characters to tell the a story about visiting the dentist, or non-fiction books that give them an overview with photos of what to expect.
Pretend To Visit The Dentist
Once your child has expectations of what is it like to visit the dentist, try some role play where you take turns being the dentist and patient. This can help turn it into a fun experience that doesn't seem scary, which will prepare them for visiting the actual dentist
Plan To Give A Reward For Good Behavior
Every parent knows that a small bribe can go a long way in making sure that their child stays on their best behavior. Don't be afraid to use a bribe for your child's first visit by rewarding good behavior. This could be something as simple as getting a treat or taking a trip to the toy store to pick out a toy after their visit to the dentist. You know what your child responds to best, so use that knowledge to your advantage.
Ask a local pediatric dentist for more information to help with a child's first visit.
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