Going to the local dentist office for a routine cleaning or a few fillings may be commonplace to you, but it can be very frightening for young children. Even if your child has never had a bad experience, the sights, smells and sounds can be scary and having a stranger poking around with metal objects can be uncomfortable. Here are some tips for making sure your child is confident and compliant at the dentist’s office.

Seek Out a Children’s Dentist

It takes special skills to work with children. Their mouths are physically smaller, meaning there is less space to work. Some children gag very easily and may heave if a tool or finger brushes their tongue or roof of their mouth. Children may also have a shorter attention span or be less able to control their tongue during dental work. A children’s dentist will have the special tools and patience required to work with kids.

Practice at Home

If the only time an adult looks in a child’s mouth is at the dentist’s office, it can seem very invasive and uncomfortable to the child. Have your child recline with their head in your lap and look in their mouth with a small flashlight. Use their toothbrush to count their teeth and inspect them. If your child has a sensitive gag reflex, work on having him or her gently press the toothbrush against their own tongue to learn not to gag. Make it fun and normal to practice dental hygiene at home.

Avoid Horror Stories and Scary Words

Try not to talk about shots, needles, drills and pain and instead use words like numbing medicine, cleaning machine, ‘fixing tool,’ vibration and pressure. Explain to your child that dental procedures shouldn’t hurt, and that the sensations of pressure and vibration can be unusual but not something to be feared. If you are a nervous patient yourself or have had bad experiences, try not to let your child see your apprehension or overhear your horror stories.

Make Dental Care Routine

Take your child to the dentist every six months as soon as their first tooth erupts. This will allow them to grow up with dental care being commonplace. Don’t wait until your child has nearly a full set of teeth! Children need to start going to the local dentist office and practicing dental hygiene very young to develop comfort with these routines.

Children can be afraid at the dentist’s office, even if they’ve never had a bad experience. If your child needs dental work, call our office today to schedule an appointment.

Seeing children smile is one of the nicest benefits of being a child’s parent or caretaker. Hearing them laugh is priceless. With care provided early in life by a children’s dentist, your child can get off to the healthiest possible start through good dental hygiene. This gives them the best chance to have healthier teeth and a white smile.

Going to the local dentist office will not seem so challenging to children when they’re introduced to taking good care of their teeth and seeing a dentist from an early age. Your children’s dentist will probably recommend seeing your child for the first time as early as age one. You can begin at home by softly brushing your child’s teeth using gauze as soon as their first baby teeth come in. This gets them used to the concept of dental hygiene.

Pediatric Dentists Are Experts At Making Children Feel Comfortable

Pediatric dentists usually have their offices decorated in a child friendly way to make kids feel comfortable. Many offices have special child size furniture and brightly colored, child inspired decor. Children’s dentists are also specially trained in:

Your local dentist office will strive to give kids and parents an experience that makes everyone feel comfortable. When kids and their parents are relaxed, the experience is positive.

Services Your Pediatric Dentist Will Provide To Children

Some of the services pediatric dentists specialize in are:

  1. Teaching kids the importance of good dental hygiene to prevent cavities, infections and other problems
  2. Dental x-rays if needed
  3. Fluoride treatments to prevent future cavities
  4. Flossing teeth and giving teeth a thorough cleaning
  5. Finding and filling cavities
  6. Placing sealants on molars and hard to reach teeth to protect them from cavities

Seeing The Dentist Becomes A Welcome Experience

When children’s first experiences of seeing a dentist are positive and affirming, they have the best chances for healthy, white teeth and beautiful smiles for life. If you’re interested in giving your kids a great start in dental care, feel free to call us to make an appointment. The gift of good dental health is priceless.

Whether it’s the first visit or your child has already had several appointments, visiting the local dentist office can unfortunately be traumatic for some children. A parent can help ease a child’s anxiety by following a few simple steps. The following are 5 tips for preparing your child for a trip to the dentist.

1. Lead by Example
Children pay more attention to what you do than what you may say. Many children, especially younger ones, want to take part in whatever they see the adults in their lives doing. Make sure you’re setting a good example by keeping regular dental appointments.

2. Practice Good Dental Hygiene at Home
If you are regularly helping your child brush and floss at home you are already getting him or her accustomed to much of what will happen when visiting the dentist. Having the brush in their mouth will help them get used to simple dental procedures.

3. Start Out Young
While some parents wait until a child is ready for preschool to visit a children’s dentist, many experts recommend starting out as young as age one. The younger a child starts out, the more easily visiting the local dentist office will become a regular part of his or her life.

4. Select Your Words Carefully
Instead of focusing on the negative by saying there won’t be “shots” or it won’t “hurt” much, talk about the positive aspects. Discuss how good it feels to have clean, healthy teeth. If the children’s dentist you visit hands out stickers or other goodies after a visit, include that in the discussion as well.

5. Prepare for Some Resistance
There may be some fussing before the visit and when coming into the office. Even adults can be apprehensive when visiting the dentist so it’s only natural that a child may not always happily go along. Staying calm and comforting your child is important to make him or her feel as comfortable and confident as possible.

If your child has not visited the dentist during the past six months it’s definitely time to call the dentist office and request an appointment. Practicing good dental hygiene habits at an early age will help children stay healthy throughout their lives.

Kids’ teeth play an important part in their physical and social well-being. Although they’ll lose their baby teeth while in elementary school and possibly wisdom teeth as teens, they can also experience other dental issues that may be painful or affect their self-esteem. A children’s dentist is skilled at working with children to help keep their teeth healthy and teach effective dental hygiene. Here are a few reasons why your kids should visit a local dentist’s office twice a year for checkups.

Check Dental Development

Before starting school, young children should have their first dental checkup to ensure their teeth are coming in normally without any significant problems. A children’s dentist often uses this opportunity to establish the child’s dental record, possibly using x-rays, and to identify any serious problems that may require special attention, like a tooth embedded in the upper palate or certain gum disorders.

Familiarize Kids with Dental Care

Kids who have a positive first visit at the local dentist’s office will begin to feel comfortable with dental checkups. They can be taught dental hygiene strategies for brushing and flossing their teeth, and they will learn how important it is to take care of their teeth every day. The dentist or dental hygienist typically makes the visit fun by offering small token gifts or displaying a positive attitude and fun personality. This lays the groundwork for a life-long habit of good dental care.

Coordinate Special Services If Needed

Children who have dental problems like missing permanent teeth, twisted or tipped teeth, or who are literally tongue-tied can be referred to specialists who can handle these and other problems. Addressing serious issues while children are still young may head off more serious problems later. For example, many orthodontists prefer to remove wisdom teeth before a patient reaches adulthood.

Establishing a regular dental checkup for kids lets them see their teeth are valuable. It teaches them to respect dentists as well as learn to care for their teeth for the rest of their lives. Call a local dentist who specializes in patients who are children to schedule an appointment soon.

Uptown Charlotte Dentistry & Orthodontics

Specializing in Invisalign, Composite Bonding, Veneers and Crowns.

We do our best to make it easy for you to get the beautiful smile you deserve! Our office accepts nearly all major insurance plans. Even though dental insurance is a private arrangement between you and your company, we will file your claim, handle all the paperwork, and help you get maximum insurance benefits.

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