The American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommend children have their first visit no later than their first birthday. This may seem early, but it’s extremely important that newly erupted teeth receive proper dental care. At this early stage, we can provide interceptive care that may prevent your child from needing more advanced dental work in the future.
The first visit will be primarily for acclimating your child to our office and team. We will introduce ourselves, explain the kinds of tools we will be using, and discuss nutrition and your homecare routine. At this visit, we can also offer advice should your child experience a dental emergency in the future. Familiarizing your child with our dental office and proper methods for home care at a young age will instill positive associations with visiting the dentist and lifelong oral health habits.
We encourage parents to become active participants in their child’s oral healthcare. During the first visit, you should accompany your child to the treatment room, so he or she will feel comfortable with the dentist and surroundings. At subsequent visits, our hygienist will escort the child, ensuring his or her comfort throughout the visit. This allows us to develop a relationship of trust directly with the child, which will help your child feel confident in future dental visits. We will always discuss treatment with you prior to your child’s appointment, and we will help you make the best choices for your child’s unique and precious personality.
During the Exam
Before we begn any treatment, we will tell and show the child what we are going to do, and encourage him or her to ask questions and explore the “tools” we will use. We want your child to feel completely at ease in the dental chair, and we have found that thorough explanation helps eliminate anxiety. We may use kid-friendly terms like “Mr. Thirsty” to describe the suction. We want to prevent over-explanation, as this could create confusion.
The first visit will include a complete exam, during which we will look for signs of decay and check for correct bite alignment. We will also clean and “polish” your child’s teeth and discuss your homecare routine. The hygienist will show your child how to brush and floss, and recommend tips for kid-friendly oral hygiene products. Because we treat each child as an individual, taking the time necessary to make him or her comfortable and aswering all of your questions, appointment times may vary. After the visit, your child will receive a special prize from the Paris Children’s Dentistry staff.
Preparing for Your Visit
We will do our best to accommodate your busy schedule. Please schedule an appointment today!