Forming a Healthy Child-Dentist Relationship

Dentists perform a very important function in our oral and general health. However, children can be quite afraid of dentists, which can be problematic for both the child and parent alike.

If you are a parent with young children, the best way to help form a child-friendly relationship is to prepare beforehand. Here are some things you can do:

1. The earlier, the better. Ideally, the earlier your child goes to the dentist, the better. This has two benefits. First, your child will get used to visiting the dentist, which eliminates the anxiety on their part. Second, regular dentist visits will ensure that from the earliest stages, your child’s dental health is being monitored. Any problems that come up will be detected and resolved early. Dentists recommend the first visit to be at the age of one year, or once your baby’s first tooth erupts. To make it more convenient, find a dentist that is accessible to you. To do this, you can go online and search for “dentist near me.”

2. Keep it simple and positive. If your child is a bit older during his first visit, he or she will ask what the dentist will do. You can say the dentist will check his teeth. Be careful not to mention anything that may involve pain. Your dentist or his staff may have their ways of describing the experience to children that will cause them minimal stress.

3. To help prepare your child, you can roleplay about a pretend dentist visit. You can pretend to be the dentist and have your child sit in a reclining chair. If you have access to dentist playsets, you can get one and use innocent-looking tools, such as the “mirror,” and use it as you count your child’s teeth.

Along with these tips, you can also ask your dentist for more ideas on how to prepare your child. If there is a dentist specializing in pediatric dentistry, it may be good to go there since they are well-experienced with children.