I remember the first time I took my youngest child to the dentist. It was a stressful day, to say the least. Looking back, I know I could’ve ensured the day went a little better had I prepared my son for what to expect. After all, the dentist’s office can be a scary place even for us adults who know exactly what all of those sharp, imposing tools are for. I can only imagine what my little one thought when the dentist’s tray featuring two hypodermic syringes and a tooth-pick slid in front of him. Ouch (Yes, that was a very, very stressful day – for the both of us.) Knowing what I do now, I’ve put together some pointers for preparing your child for his first dentist visit. Read on to learn from my hard-learned lessons.
The huddle. Before you even leave home for the dentist’s office, it is important that you have a thorough, informational pep talk with your child. (This is where I fell short.) You need to discuss everything that they will see in the dentist’s office, and exactly what they can expect to be subjected to while they are there. Kids always like to know what’s going to happen, and when, and a visit to the dentist’s office is certainly no exception.
Books about dental care. The time to start preparing your child for the dentist is way before you actually plan on taking him to the dentist. There are plenty of great children’s books about dental care on the market. Incorporate these into your child’s bedtime story time in order to instill in him the importance of dental care, and to integrate that knowledge into his understanding of what is “normal.” I call this process desensitization, and it works wonders.
Dental habits at home. It is important that you enforce good dental habits consistently, even when there is no impending dentist’s office visit. This is another integral part of the desensitization process. Brushing and flossing should seem like second nature to your child . . . and, therefore, visiting the dentist’s office will be just a natural extension of what is practiced every single day in the home – no big deal.
If your child has an upcoming dentist’s appointment, keep in mind how scary the dentist’s office can be for a young child. Being prepared will prevent a catastrophe. You might even want to use Metrofax online faxing to send in your child’s registration paperwork in advance so you can give him all of your attention on that difficult day. It is important that you take certain measures to prepare your young one for that appointment, so that when the big day arrives, it’s not a traumatizing event for all involved.
