Trips to the dentist are an essential part of oral care, but for a child, the first time can be scary. Sitting in a chair, under a light, while a stranger pokes inside their mouth is understandably daunting.
1Preparing for the Journey
We are often afraid of things we don’t understand, so the best way to make your child’s first trip to the dentist smooth sailing is to help them understand what to expect before they get to the office. Knowledge will make the visit more comfortable and relaxing.
2Normalize Dental Visits with Stories
Children's literature is an incredible tool for calming worries. Reading together helps children visualize the dentist's office as a friendly, welcoming place:
The Berenstain Bears
"Visit the Dentist" shows kids there's nothing to fear from cleanings, cavities, or friendly dental tools.
Dr. Seuss Classics
Explore fun lessons on brushing, flossing, and oral health through magical rhythms and illustrations.
Sesame Street
Join beloved friends like Elmo as they prepare for a standard cleaning and make sparkling clean smiles!
✨ Try Roleplaying a "Pretend Visit" at Home
Making the dentist fun at home will make the outing more fun when the time comes. Try count-down games, pretending to examine teeth using a small flashlight, and describing each step of the cleaning.
- ☀️ "Clean, strong smile"
- ☀️ "Dental shining star"
- ☀️ "Friendly tooth helper"
- ⚠️ Avoid words like "shot"
- ⚠️ Avoid words like "hurt"
- ⚠️ Avoid post-visit bribes
3Tactics from Certified Pediatric Specialists
Here at our practice, because we specialize inpediatric dentistry services, we too have tactics to make the appointment go easy and smooth for both you and your child! Thank you for trusting us with your family's smiles.
When to Schedule the First Trip?
As a rule of thumb, children should start going to the dentist by age 1, or within six months after their first tooth erupts.
Board-Certified Doctors
Our specialists make dental visits a positive, happy experience for children of all ages.
Amberly Drive Office
Office Hours:
Mon - Thu: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday: Closed