Child’s First Dental Visit
Just like any other milestone along life's journey, your child's first dental visit is hopefully the start of a lifetime of good dental care and oral health. Given the importance of the first dental visit in setting the tone for future appointments, it's vital that as much is done to make the experience as comfortable and relaxing as possible. At Prime Children’s Dental Care, our caring, compassionate, all-female team will do everything possible to make your child's visit one that's remembered for all the right reasons.
The Australasian, American and International Academies of Paediatric Dentistry recommend a child's first dental visit should be conducted within 6 months of the eruption of the first tooth and no later than 1 year of age. At this visit, parents will be provided with anticipatory guidance regarding their child's oral health.
Seeing the dentist at an early age will help create a positive experience at the dentist. Waiting until a child has a dental problem before visiting the dentist may result in extensive dental treatment needs.
At what age should my child visit the dentist?
How can I prepare my child for their first visit?
It's worth explaining to your child that the dentist helps you keep your mouth and teeth healthy. Keep the language light-hearted and avoid any words that may induce unnecessary worries. We won’t lie to your child about what we do, but our language is specifically selected to create a safe and confident experience.
Explain that you will be with them the whole time. Your child will look to you for assurance about what to expect or how to behave in this new environment. If you are worried about the dentist (like many adults) please know we are here to support you also. We have even helped some anxious parents return to the dentist themselves.
Your child can sit in a special chair or on your lap while the dentist looks at their teeth. Some children may want to practise opening their mouths nice and wide beforehand. Depending on your child, it may be worth letting them role-play dentist with you and/or their toys.
Bringing along a favourite fluffy toy (who can also have an appointment) can be a good idea. We also have a picture/social story about an appointment at our office. Let us know you’re interested when you make an appointment and we’ll send it to you.
Our female-run practice is a gentle and nurturing environment where we ensure your child feels safe. We always aim to create a positive experience so your child wants to visit us again.
The first visit to the dentist
We believe a child’s first visit to the dentist should be about putting them, and you, at ease. We are keen to build trust and lay firm foundations for the relationship between our team and your child from the outset.
Barring a dental emergency, we generally don’t complete any treatment on the first visit. It's an opportunity for us to record your child’s medical and dental history and complete a comprehensive examination and discussion. We allow plenty of time for an initial appointment, letting your child to take their time getting used to the environment and learning how to be a dental patient. If required, we may also take dental x-rays.
We understand how stressful a dental visit can be for parents and children – our compassionate team of female professionals is always happy to go the extra mile to ensure your visit goes smoothly.
The first visit isn't just an opportunity to document your child's medical history and complete an examination. It’s also a great chance to ask questions and raise any concerns you might have.
As a paediatric dental team, we can provide information and assistance on any aspect of dental and oral health. You might have concerns about dummy use or thumb-sucking, or maybe your toddler isn't eager to use a toothbrush? Whatever your concerns, we have plenty of advice and support to give.
We’re happy to answer any questions you may have