by Kirsten Hines

Created on: December 28, 2010

When your children start to reach the age of three it is time to find a pediatric dentist.  It is important to teach your child good dental health to maintain this habit throughout their lifetime.  Research dentists in the area and find one that is recommended highly by other parents. A good dentist can make a good visit all the difference for your child.  

Friendly dentist

While several dentists will see children on a regular basis, they may not have the demeanor that is child friendly. When choosing a dentist for your child, find one that is very good with children. Talking to other parents will give you the perfect start to picking the right dentist. Visit the dentist yourself before bringing your toddler for his or her appointment. You want to make sure: the office staff is friendly, the office is clean, there are child friendly toys and the appointments are running on time.

Talk to your toddler

Sit down with your child several times before his or her first appointment and discuss what to expect when visiting the dentist. Let your child know that the dentist will be looking in your child’s mouth and using tools. There are several books that can help calm a child about visiting the dentist such as “Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist”.

Take the child with you to your appointment

Make a dental appointment for yourself and take your toddler with you. Make sure this is okay with the dentist office before you set this up. By doing this your child will see that even mommy and daddy go for regular check-ups at the dentist and it is okay. Seeing you at a dental appointment will help put your child’s mind at ease.

Allow your child to sit on your lap

Your child may have some anxiety during his or her first visit to the dentist. If this is the case, you may allow your child to sit on your lap during the exam. This will help calm your child’s nerves and feel more comfortable in your arms.

Frequent visits

If your child has high anxiety about the dentist talk to the dentist about visiting once a week until your child is comfortable. Many dentists will allow your child come in just to sit in the dental chair to talk for a few minutes to start feeling comfortable. This will help your child get used to visiting the dentist and finally feel comfortable letting the dentist do his or her job.

Giving your child a small reward is a nice way to show your child he or she did a wonderful job. Your child’s first visit to the dentist is a special one. Making sure he or she has a fun visit to the dentist will help set the stage for future appointments to the dentist.

Learn more about this author, Kirsten Hines.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.