Your Child’s First Visit

Lots of parents avoid feeding their child before a dentist appointment, but nothing makes a child grouchier than having to sit still on an empty stomach. If you want to help your child stay calm and even-tempered during their visit, make sure they’ve eaten first. Obviously, we recommend something healthy and filling (and be sure they brush their teeth afterward!).

Try to schedule your child’s appointment when they are well rested. Tired children usually equal cranky children. Avoid appointments during what would be your child’s nap time (if they take naps), or at the end of day if they are usually tired after school.

Some children do better when their parents aren’t in the room during treatment. They tend to sit still, listen better, and be braver. Kids can feel if their parent is anxious and it can cause them to become anxious or nervous. If YOU are anxious, maybe consider excusing yourself to the waiting room once your child is seated and comfortable at the start of their visit. If you do want to stay in the room with them, its best to remain relaxed and quiet as we work with your child to make their visit a positive experience.

Mentioning pain or discomfort ahead of the appointment reinforces the idea that dental visits are something to dread. Instead, make sure to talk about your child’s upcoming appointment in ways that make it seem like a normal, everyday task. Words like ‘needle’ ‘shot’ or ‘drill’ can be a bit alarming, and should be avoided.

Don’t try to relate to your child’s worries or fears by describing your own scary, uncomfortable, or painful dental experiences. This will only make their worries or fears worse. We have a great team of Doctors and Staff what will do everything we can to make sure your child doesn’t have a negative experience.

Offering your child a treat or toy in exchange for their promise to behave during a dental appointment suggests that behaving will be a challenge. If you say, ‘if you’re good and don’t cry, you’ll get a special treat afterwards,’ your child may start to wonder about why he might feel inclined to cry or misbehave during the appointment. Instead, it’s best to make the experience seem ordinary so that your child doesn’t have any reason to worry. Talk about your own visits to the dentist in a positive way.

Even if your child gets scared or frustrated during their visit, it’s best to focus on the things they did well. Then take them out after the appointment and make a point of rewarding them for their good behaviour, instead of drawing attention to their problems. Giving your child a healthy snack and some words of encouragement after each appointment is an excellent way to help them form positive associations with dental visits.