The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that you take your child for their first visit as early as 6 months of age, 6 months after the first tooth erupts and no later than their first birthday. With this information in mind, we have recommended the following technique to help smooth the process for your baby’s first visit. Dr. Evy has treated babies as young as 7 days old to extract natal teeth (teeth a child is born with) and adolescents as old as 18 years; however, Dr. Evy has treated numerous babies and infants for baby bottle decay as early as 8 months of age, before the upper front baby teeth have fully erupted! It is essential to have your child be examined as early in infancy as possible and to obtain the information and tools needed to prevent baby bottle decay- saving you and your baby a trip to the hospital for dental procedures.
Similar to the fear most parents have when sending their child off to their first day of school can be experienced by most parents when taking their child to the dentist for the first time. As a parent, your biggest fear is that your child will experience pain and harm. At Green Apple Pediatric Dentistry we understand this fear and are excited to help you and your child experience your first dental visit with as little fear and anxiety as possible.
The following use of words and phrases below are encouraged to be incorporated into your young child’s vocabulary pre and post their first dental visit. The idea is to refrain from using intimidating words that can frighten your child and cause anxiety while on the dental chair. The calmer your child is during his/her first dental visit, the smoother the visit will go causing a positive experience on your child that will excite them for their second visit.
Words to refrain from:
- Cavities
- Drill
- Needles
- Pinch
- Rinse
- X-rays
Words/phrases to use instead:
- Sugar bugs
- Tickle your teeth/Use Mr. Bumpy or Mr. Whistle to help scrub off the sugar bugs
- Sleepy Juice for the tooth
- You’re going to feel a big shake on your cheek/lip
- Give your teeth a tooth wash to help spray sugar bugs off
Most importantly we recommend that you encourage your child to ask questions he/she feels comfortable asking and help them be confident throughout the dental visit. Our goal is to empower your child to take control of their oral health as much as possible from an early age. The end goal would be to successfully allow your child to transition into a phase where they will feel comfortable receiving their dental procedure independent of their parent in the room.
Remember to schedule preventative check-ups every six months to prevent any sugar bugs on your little bundle of joy!
For additional information feel free to visit the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, which is a great resource for, parents www.aapd.org
