First Visit
We will be your partner in establishing a strong and healthy foundation from which your child’s oral care will grow.
Even with this being such an exciting time, it’s important to recognize that your child may be feeling nervous. Both our team members and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommend that you come to visit us by the time your child reaches one year of age. We actually perform free examinations for children before their first birthday! This helps to prevent cavities and also builds your child’s comfort in the dental office.
Regardless of their age or the number of teeth they have when they first come to our office, our priority is to give them a great experience! Below, we would like to share with you some tips that may make them feel less anxious about the coming dental appointment.
Making the First Visit a Pleasant Experience
Your child’s first dental appointment can be an intimidating experience. The anticipation of what may happen and nervousness about new people, places and things, is normal. If you are like most parents, your child’s first dental visit is not one that you will soon forget. It will likely be filled with wonder, questions, and perhaps fears for some children. For others, it will be a time of great excitement and joy. Either way, know that you are not alone – many parents experience feelings of anxiety as well when their child’s first dental visit rolls around. Allow us to make the experience positive for both of you by providing some information on what to expect!
- First and foremost, you can count on kindness and respect from our team at all times. If your child begins the appointment feeling frightened, you can trust that we will be patient and understanding. We are each trained to work specifically with children (and love what we do)! Our experience and expertise allow us to de-escalate situations and bring your child into a calm state prior to beginning treatment.
- Depending on the age of your child, we encourage them to ask questions or express concerns regarding their oral health or level of comfort. As with every appointment, we will do our best to accommodate them in a way that keeps them relaxed throughout their visit.
- Our team members will clean your child’s teeth and conduct a thorough examination of their mouth during this visit. We will utilize our findings to present you both with helpful feedback that can improve your child’s oral hygiene.
- Throughout the entire visit, our priority will be to create positive memories for your child. This will, hopefully, encourage your child to become excited about dental care and look forward to returning!