Your Child's First Visit
We support the recommendation by the American Academy of Pediatric
Dentistry that your child should visit the dentist by his or her
first birthday. Your child’s first visit to the dentist is very
important and we promise to make it a great experience! We are
excited to meet you and your child at this appointment. Our goal
is to build a steady relationship that will last for years in a
trusting, comfortable environment and will promote good oral health
and habits.
This “well baby” visit, at the age of one, provides valuable information
on how to take care of your baby’s teeth, how to keep them healthy and
cavity free, and how to assess normal dental development. Your baby
will have his or her first oral exam during this visit. Parents will
learn proper techniques for tooth brushing and receive nutritional
information that will help maintain good oral health.
Toddlers will also have an enjoyable first dental visit! We will use
a “show and tell”, or “Tell-Show-Do”, technique to allow your child to
see, touch, play with, and understand every object he or she will come
in contact with during this visit. Our staff uses age appropriate language
that will help your child grasp dental ideas. Your child will have an oral
exam, receive x-rays, and have a dental cleaning with fluoride treatment.
Parents will receive nutritional and diet counseling as well as home care
instructions for the child’s oral hygiene.
Please be aware that dental treatments such as fillings or extractions
will not be performed at your child’s first appointment unless it is an
emergency situation. We use this first visit to get to know your child,
evaluate behavior that will help determine the best approach to take for
future necessary treatments, assess your child’s dental needs, and help
gain his or her confidence in our doctors and staff.
Success at your child's first dental visit.
We understand that every parent is nervous about how his or her child
will behave at the first dental visit. Your participation in preparing
your child for this visit is crucial! Our goal is for all of our new
patients and families to have a fun, exciting, and educational dental
visit. Our commitment at Turner Pediatric Dentistry is to ensure your
child has a very positive experience. Here are some hints that may help
make this first dental visit awesome!!
Be Positive
We suggest that you refrain from letting your child know of anxiety YOU
may have about dental visits. Try not to use words that can cause
unnecessary fear, such as needle, shot, drill, pull, or hurt. We use
words that convey the same message, but are pleasant and non-frightening
to your child.
Don't Overexplain
Children often ask what is going to happen at the dental visit. Avoid
giving your child more information than he or she is able to understand,
but don’t purposely mislead your child. Try not to say comments like
“Don’t worry – it won’t hurt”. These statements actually make your child
more anxious because they know you never say that when anticipated
experiences are really fun.
Set A Good Example
Children imitate their role models…YOU! Practice good dental habits at
home, such as brushing and flossing twice a day. Visit YOUR dentist on
a regular basis. Beware of frequent snacking – especially eating
sugar-filled foods and drinks.
Coping Behavior of Children
The first dental visit can be a challenging new experience for a young
child. They often fear the unknown and may exhibit “avoidance behavior”
such as squirming or crying. Parents should not be surprised or embarrassed
if their child does not initially cooperate in the office. If allowed
the opportunity, children usually take great pride in overcoming their
fears and are very happy about what they’ve accomplished at the visit.
New Location Opening in Fall
Our new office at Cedar Crest will be open on October 5, 2010.