Bringing Your Children to the Dentist
The dentist office can be a very strange looking place to a child. It may be like nothing they have ever seen before. There are strange looking tools and funny sounds and smells that can be unnerving to an unsuspecting child. Fortunately dentists have come a long way since I was a child, and as a mom of three children, I am grateful for these comforts. As a local Dentist in Calgary, we have been providing services for over 25 years and have developed several techniques in treating children.
To ensure smooth appointments and cooperation at return appointments, children must feel comfortable with their dentist. For young children, usually starting at the age of three, we use the first appointment as a general meet-and-greet. At this appointment we show your child some of the tools that we use, such as mirrors and polishing cups, and try to make it a fun experience. If everything goes well, we will proceed with regular cleanings and check-ups. Some children have difficulties adjusting to the dental environment and therefore they may be referred to a pediatric specialist accordingly. We don’t want to traumatize kids at an early age with something as important as their oral health.
Of course, kids will be kids and sometimes they have an accident or urgent dental injury. To accommodate dental emergencies we have extended hours, and weekend availability, to address the situation as soon as it arises.
As a mom, I think it is a good idea to have a few toys to entertain your child while they wait. I teach my children that the dentist office is a business and therefore it is important to sit in one area and talk quietly. It is always a good place to do some reading with your kids, and our office has a designated area for kids to play with a few toys, read some books, or even watch cartoons. Of course we also have a well-stocked toy chest to reward kids after their appointments!
It’s always a good idea to show up 5 to 10 minutes before your appointment to allow time to go to the bathroom and update any of your information (such as address or insurance) as well as get the kids into the right mindset for being at the dental office. Fortunately my children look forward to going to the dentist so it is never a problem to get them here!
Wendy B
Greeter, and Mom of 3
Why are baby teeth important?
Many people think that baby teeth are not important because they fall out after a few years, however; that is not the case!
Besides chewing, baby teeth have several important functions, including; speech, enunciation and language development, in addition to holding a space for the permanent teeth. If the baby teeth are removed before they are naturally ready a small appliance may be needed to prevent adjacent teeth from drifting into the empty space and causing dental crowding (meaning possibly braces!) down the road.
Taking care of baby teeth by brushing, flossing, eating a healthy diet and regular visits to the dentist will help to ensure your child’s teeth and gums remain healthy, and allow them to fulfill their natural function.
A child’s smile is one of life’s greatest blessings!
Michelle A
Treatment Coordinator
Preparing your Child for Dental Appointments
Parents often are unsure how to mentally prepare their children for dental appointments, sometimes forgetting that their own anxiety can be passed down unintentionally. Children remember intimidating stories and words such as ‘pain’, ‘scared’, or ‘needle’ and might associate these fears with dentistry throughout adulthood. The truth is if we start off right, most children will have a healthy outlook and positive experiences at the dentist.
As a local Calgary dentist, we would love to share some tips for our patients to prepare children for their dental visits:
- Keep explanations simple! Don’t go into detail about freezing, needles, and cavities. Instead try something like “The dentist is going to fix your tooth and he will show you how he does it at the appointment.”
- Present check-ups as an exciting event. Instead of saying “The dentist is going to check for cavities” try saying “The dentist will count all of your teeth and take pictures to see how healthy they are!”
- Promote proper home care! Preventing cavities is the easiest way to make dental visits easy. Please don’t threaten children with dental appointments and cavities when they refuse to brush. Make it a goal to ‘show the dentist how clean you keep your teeth’. We even carry some children’s toothbrushes that play different sounds the longer you brush, and have changeable face plates!
These are just a few of the steps to make dental appointments easier for kids. We have a free information guide with more tips available here at the office; please contact us for a copy!
Clean teeth are happy teeth!
Kaitlin B