What should I tell my child about their first dental visit?
May 2006, published in VUE365 Magazine
(Dubuque, Iowa)
This common question is asked over and over by parents. Your child's reaction to her first visit to the dentist may surprise you. Many parents find that their child does much better than expected.
According to Dr. Aaron Rauen of Abbadent Dental Center, “We suggest you prepare your child the same way that you would before their first haircut appointment or trip to the shoe store. This will not be the frightening experience you may remember from your youth. If you are nervous about the trip, then the less you say the better. You cannot hide your anxiety from a child; they have radar for these things.”
A child’s primary or "baby" teeth will begin to appear around six months old. These "baby" teeth help children to chew and speak, as well as holding space in the jaws for the permanent teeth to replace. The American Dental Association suggests making this first dental visit no later than the child’s first birthday. This early age dental visit allows for the dentist to check for tooth decay and other possible problems. In addition, we can demonstrate proper cleaning techniques for your child’s teeth and how to evaluate negative habits; such as thumb sucking. Most children will have their full set of 20 "baby" teeth by the age of three. Around the age of six, these primary teeth will begin to fall out and be replaced by the first of the permanent adult teeth.
For more information about this or other dental related topics, visit the American Dental Association at www.ada.org or Abbadent Dental Center at www.abbadent.com.
