Dentures: Facts, Figures and Friendly Advice for Seniors

Tips for Building a Child's Confidence During Dental Visits

21 October 2020

Herman Kim

When should you take your child to a dentist? Most new parents wait until there is a problem or when their child is old enough. However, dentists advise parents against delays and suggest that a child's first appointment should be booked immediately after the first tooth erupts. It gives a dentist enough time to spot any dental issue as early as possible and prescribe corrective measures. Although the first visit to a dentist might be overwhelming to a child, you should use the opportunity to build their confidence. Read on for tips on how to do this.

Familiarise Your Child with Staff -- Most adults admit that they still go to the same dentist every single time. It shows that trust goes a long way in building a close relationship between a dentist and a patient. For this reason, parents should do their best to introduce their children to a dental clinic's staff. The more comfortable your children get with the employees, the easier it gets to settle down. That said, ensure that you choose a dental clinic with friendly staff and excellent customer service.

Use Friendly Terms for Dental Tools -- Describing dental tools as friendly to a young child is often met with scepticism. It might explain why most parents struggle to take their children for routine dental checkups. However, you can easily change this perception in children if you start early. Rather than use the real names of dental tools, you should attach friendly terms to them. For instance, introducing a dentist's probe as a 'tooth counter' is friendlier to a child since the name is easy to understand. Similarly, referring to a dental drill as a 'tooth sweeper' for cleaning teeth will comfort a child. You can do this with most dental gadgets, and a dentist might help you to coin creative and friendly terms.

Regular Visits -- A child's first few years have a significant impact on their dental health and perception of a dentist. Although some parents take their kids to a dentist early, they can go for an entire year before the next visit. However, the sporadic approach does not do your child any good. It is the reason why dentists encourage parents to take their children for a dental checkup every six months after their very first visit. It allows a dentist to build upon the first and subsequent appointments.    

To learn more, contact a dentist.

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