Your Child’s First Dental Visit
Photo of my older daughter’s first dental cleaning by yours truly at age 2.5
Embarking on the journey of your child's dental health is an important milestone. The first dental visit can set the tone for their lifelong relationship with oral hygiene and with future dental office visits. In this blog post, I'll delve into every aspect of a child's first dental visit, from preparation to post-appointment care, hoping for a smooth and positive experience for both parent and child.
At what age should a child first see a Dentist?
Well, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, a child is recommended to start seeing a dentist as soon as their first tooth erupts or by their first birthday, whichever comes first. However, in my professional experience as a dental hygienist and as a mother, I personally recommend waiting until between the age of two and three years old. Although, there are exceptions to this recommendation of mine. The first being if you are concerned with something you see in your child’s mouth. This could be a tongue tie, a dark spot on a tooth, feeling like your child is behind in development and wanting to get a professional opinion or if you truly just want more information and an in person demonstration on how to properly care for your child’s teeth. I am hoping that with this page and my demonstration videos, you will find the proper tools and confidence to implement a good oral hygiene routine with your child and feel okay with waiting a little longer to see the Dentist for the first time.
Why I believe it is better to see a Dentist slightly older than the recommended age mentioned above.
I have been in the dental field for over ten years now and I have seen my fair share of child patients. I also have two young children of my own, ages 2 and 3. I am a firm believer in creating good habits with your children from a very young age, and dental hygiene is definitely no exception. However, when I have seen patients under the age of two, it has been a very overwhelming experience for both the child patient and often the parent as well. Under the age of two, generally speaking, the children have a harder time listening to an authoritative figure other than the parent and may struggle to understand the big picture. Often times, I see the child crying and stressed and unable to communicate what is bothering them and the parent stressed about what they should or shouldn’t be doing to help them and myself get through this “torturous” experience. To this day, my two year old has not been in to see me for a dental cleaning. I plan to bring her when she is a little closer to 2.5 years of age, as she is still learning how to express her feelings in the form of words and is gaining the ability to understand explanation better and better as each day goes by.
Preparing for the First Visit
The first decision you would need to make is to decide if you would like your child to see a pediatric dental office or add them to your family practice (if they see children). I believe there are pros and (a few)cons to each and the decision is entirely your own.
Top reasons for selecting a pediatric dental office:
A fun, often colorful and animated scene for the kids to feel welcomed and more comfortable
A pediatric dentist that specializes and is very familiar with all things primary (baby) teeth- a bonus!!
Specialized children focused referrals if they are necessary during development (such as orthodontic treatment)- They sometimes even have an on-site option.
Children sized chairs and age appropriate activities for when they are waiting
The only negative that I could really think of about choosing a pediatric dental office is the fact that you have a completely different dental care team than you have yourself, which would prevent you from scheduling visits together and developing as meaningful of a relationship with the dental provider. Other than that, a pediatric office is a great place for a child to start (of course the staff can make all the difference).
Top reasons for selecting a family practice (that can see all ages):
You often already know the staff from your own dental visits, therefore may have a better relationship with your child’s provider
If staffing allows, you may be able to schedule multiple family member’s visits at the same time
A general dentist has referrals to specialists if they feel they should be seen for something in particular that they do not treat themselves (such as orthodontics or oral surgery)
A family practice has the ability to see your child from their very first dental visit at a young age all the way through adulthood- which I must say is super special for me, as a dental hygienist!
The only real downfall when choosing a family office that I can think of would be that it is not often all colorful and catered to the child experience. The child’s experience heavily relies on the personality of the clinician and dentist (and of course how great the treasure chest is after their appointment)!
Whichever office you decide to go with, just make sure that you feel comfortable talking to the team about your concerns and that they take the time to listen and address those concerns. If you feel that they are always rushed and treating you like a number, maybe a different office would be a better fit. Don’t compromise quality of care for your child, as this is going to be the start of a very important life long relationship.
Strategies to prepare your child mentally and emotionally for the appointment
Books, shows and parent talks are my top three suggestions in this category! I do not recommend just showing up to a dental office and expecting them to enjoy the experience. My children personally love shows like Cocomelon and other cartoons that sing about daily experiences. I highly recommend finding an episode or segment of an episode to show them what they can expect from their first dental office visit. Books are also a fantastic way to introduce them to this experience.
Some more examples of books can be found in product recommendations tab of my website.
I also recommend chatting with your child about this starting at least 3 days before the visit. You want them to have some time to think about the experience and come up with some questions. They may start off a little hesitant, in which you’ll have time to decide if another TV show or book would be a good idea to show them, or just spend some time calming their nerves by listening to their concerns and answering any questions they may have. During the drive to the dentist, be sure to show enthusiasm yourself by saying things like “Yay! I can’t wait to see the dentist! I love sitting in their big girl chairs. The dentist is so funny! And I always get to pick out a special prize at the end after I did such a great job!”
Suggestion: get them a toy toothbrush and let them “play dentist” on their stuffed animals before hand. If they would like to bring their stuffy, let them!
During the dental visit:
Okay, so you have arrived and your child suddenly becomes stressed and does not want to be there. Well, rest assured, you are not the first parent to experience this. Do your best at talking to the child and remaining as calm as possible. Often times, the dental staff will pick up on this and jump in to help the both of you get through this introduction as smoothly as possible. Be excited (or just pretend at least) when the staff approaches you to help and try to say positive things about your child to the staff in front of them. Things like “Henry has been doing such a great job at brushing his teeth, he even brushes his stuffy’s teeth every night.” or something along those lines. This can have a real positive impact on the child’s behavior walking in. If that is not necessarily true, and he has not been doing the best job at brushing and you are struggling, try to discuss this “secretly” with the clinician so they can keep things positive and give you some tips and tricks to improve. If a child’s first experience at the dental office consists of listening to their parent complain about their struggles, this alone can be reason enough to never want to come back again.
Do I get to sit in on my child’s visit?
Many parents like to sit and watch and be present during their child’s appointment, which I completely support, especially during their first few visits when everything is brand new! (As they age and become more comfortable with the staff, feel free to watch from a distance and allow them to embrace the experience on their own, but we are talking little kids right now, so stay present!!) Offering a hand hold or rubbing their leg while sitting at the end of their chair is a great way to show affection and support to your child, while remaining out of the way for the clinician to perform their job. If the clinician is okay with it, and your child is in need of being held, that could be an option as well (depending on age and size of the child).
Understanding what to expect during the visit and how to communicate effectively with the dental team
Be sure to communicate any concerns you have with the dental team. This can be done when making their appointment (and confirming they received the memo when you arrive- sometimes it can get lost in translation) or done once you arrive and are seated in the chair. If you have a concern that you really feel the need for extra time with the dentist, such as a recent injury or a tongue tie, it is best to let the team know ahead of time so they make sure to schedule you enough time to address all of your concerns. This way, you won’t feel rushed in and out.
Let the staff know how you feel your child is performing. Are they brushing on their own with little to no help? Are they fighting you every time you mention it’s time to brush? Without publicly blasting them, be sure to let the clinician know if you are in need of any special tips or tricks to help you and your child. Complements about your child in front of your child goes a long way! Trust me!
Things to expect during the first dental visit:
X-rays “pictures of their teeth”: your child may or may not get dental X-rays during their visit. Dental X-rays are usually performed once a year, but not often until the age of about 4- 5 (sometimes sooner, sometimes later depending on chief complaint and ability).
Dental Exam by the Dentist: We often word this to the child as “The Dentist is going to come over here and count your teeth”. This tends to make the child feel like it is a game and they get excited to hear them counting.
A dental cleaning: This can be done by a Dental Assistant, Dental Hygienist or the Dentist. The main goal of the children’s first dental visit is to make them comfortable and enjoy the experience. The likelihood of them needing to scrape a bunch of stuff off of their teeth is pretty slim. It is usually a little bit of “tooth tickling” and then the “electric toothbrush” that polishes their teeth at the end. Followed by flossing and some tips and tricks to help improve for the parent and child, if necessary.
Oral Hygiene Instruction: Sometimes the clinician will actually have the parent or child demonstrate how they are brushing their teeth at home. this way they can recognize any struggle areas and give necessary instruction to improve the technique for a better progress report at the end next visit!
Fluoride Treatment: it is very common that the dental office will offer a fluoride treatment at the end of the child’s visit. Nowadays this is often performed with a varnish- basically “a paintbrush on the teeth”. If this is something you would like to opt out of, be sure to mention to the staff ahead of time so they can skip this.
Toy from the treasure chest: The best part! Hopefully they have some good stuff!!!!
Techniques to help calm a nervous or anxious child
Talking to your child before the appointment —at least a few days prior, allowing them to ask any questions or voice any concerns to you.
Reading books, watching shows, etc.
Having your child practice toothbrushing on their favorite stuffed animals.
Introducing them to dental toys such as this one or this one to help familiarize them with the tools they’ll see at the dental office. Staying positive on the way to and during the dental visit. Kids often mimic their parent’s behavior and can really feel their energy. If you get anxious going to the dental office, it might be best to allow your significant other attend the appointment instead.
Explaining the different tools and procedures in a child-friendly manner: most dental clinicians already have their child dental language down, but you can explain things with words like “squirt gun” and “Mr. Vacuum” and things that sound fun to your child!
Introducing preventive measures such as sealants and fluoride varnish
It is common that your dental team recommend preventive measures such as sealants (when older) and fluoride varnish. This is entirely up to you, but before saying yes or no, just do your research so you can make an informed decision on your own.
What is a dental sealant?
A dental sealant is a thin coating applied to the chewing surfaces of the molars and premolars, to make the surface smooth, to prevent cavities. These are often offered when permanent teeth start to erupt, so you won’t need to worry about it until they are a little older (around age 6- when they get their “six year molars”).
What is fluoride varnish?
Fluroide varnish is a protective dental treatment applied to the teeth to prevent tooth decay and strengthen enamel. It consists of concentrated fluoride solution, typically containing 5% sodium fluoride, which is painted onto the tooth surface by a dental professional. Once applied, the varnish adheres to the enamel, releasing fluoride ions that penetrate the tooth structure and help remineralize weakened areas making the teeth more resistant to acid attacks from bacteria and acidic foods. Fluoride varnish is quick, easy and painless and is often recommended to children of all ages, especially those at high risk of developing cavities, but can also benefit adults in maintaining optimal oral health. Regular application of fluoride varnish as a part of a comprehensive dental care regimen can significantly reduce the incidence of tooth decay and promotion long-term dental wellness.
Can I opt out?
Yes. You have the right to opt out of anything you’d like at the dental office. A treatment plan is something that is created by the dental team and presented to the patient but the first option that you always have is to say no. Be sure to do your research and know the consequences or likelihood of what could happen by declining the recommended treatment plan, but at the end of the day- you are your own advocate and a dental team is here to help when you feel ready. If you just want to ask more questions or get second opinions, you may do that as well.
Conclusion:
The first dental visit marks the beginning of a lifelong journey towards optimal oral health. By understanding the importance of early dental care, preparing effectively for the appointment, and promoting positive experiences, parents can set their children up for a lifetime of healthy smiles. Remember, a child's first dental visit is not just about check-ups and cleanings—it's about laying the foundation for a lifetime of confident smiles and good oral health habits. You can have a huge impact on how a child views dental health, so make sure you set a great example for them!