Let's Make This A Happy Visit


So what is going to happen in those first early visits to the pediatric dentist? The most important part of the initial exam is allowing the parent to part of the process. Getting parents on board really helps the child feel comfortable. It is the parent's understanding of their child's health needs and the nature of dental disease, especially early childhood caries, that will allow their child to accept and respect the dental exam as part of the prevention of disease. These first examinations are often performed with the child sitting on the parents lap, talking and explaining, with the least amount of instrumentation as possible. I found that plastic mirrors work best. They are not cold and also do not fog up quickly. They also come in colors! But first let's just try to look at your child and into your child's mouth. Gauze or cotton rolls are soft and can clean surface debris. Besides checking teeth, we must also examine the soft tissues, gums, cheeks and tongue. The visit for these young children will be non-invasive. Nothing "bad" happened and they got a present, toy, toothbrush or both. If the first visit is performed early enough, performed on a regular basis, and the preventive care followed, cavities can be largely prevented.
Parents are the most important factor in preventive dental care. They should be an active participant and advocate for their children, even prenatally.
On that first happy "visit to the dentist" a plan for preventive care and possibly modifying diet and behavior will be designed to best help your child.
Thank you all for your positive feedback and suggestions. I received some great comments from other pediatric dentists describing how they go about making the first dental visit easy for their patients.