How Should I Prepare My Child for Their First Dental Visit?

Hi, Dr Kat here from My Dentist Brisbane in Alderley.

I was with one of our new patients Amelia here from Alderley the other day for her check-up and clean, and at the end of the session, she said to me… Wow Kat, that one the best experience I’ve had at the dentist! I would love for you to look after my daughter Becky. She is only two, so she has never been to a dentist before. How should I prepare her for her first appointment?

As a mum myself, I can understand where she is coming from, and this is often a question we get from parents about their child’s first visit. So I thought I’ll make a short video explaining the best way to prepare your child’s first dental visit to ensure they have the best experience.

As adults we often underestimate how much even the youngest of kids can understand. So we suggest in preparation for your child’s appointment, talk to them about their upcoming visit. Let them know that they will be seeing a tooth doctor who will be counting their teeth using a teeny tiny mirror. Role play “going to the dentist” with them using their favourite toy or doll. Reassure them that you will be close at hand, they may even be sitting on your lap.
Whilst brushing their teeth, practice with them saying ees and aas, as that will be how we will be checking their teeth. Most importantly, talk about the upcoming visit with great anticipation and excitement, as your positive mood will make them feel at ease.
Finally, when scheduling an appointment be sure to work around their regular nap and lunchtimes.

Here at My Dentist, we love children and we enjoy caring for them. Our team will go above and beyond to ensure your child’s dental appointments are comfortable and fun.

We will ease them into the dental setting using our dedicated kids corner. An enjoyable ride in the chair sets the tone for the visit. We also have Netflix for kids to watch in the surgery. Talking to the child and involving them in the process is the most important step towards allaying any fears or uncertainty they have. However, for our more anxious patients we do have the option of Sedation or Happy gas.

Finally, here at My Dentist, we often run No Gap or fixed price checks up, x-rays and cleans for kids. We also Bulk bill under The Medicare Child Dental Benefit Schedule for eligible children between the age of 2-17 years of age up to the $1000 limit.

I hope I have given you a better understanding of the best way to prepare your child for his or her first visit.

If your child is ready for their first dental appointment, we would love to look after them. Simply complete the enquiry form on our website, give us a call, or direct message us on social media, and we will be in touch to organise their consultation.

See you in the next video!

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