While you may have been seeing your dentist regularly for years, when you have a child, one of the new experiences for them will be their first dental appointment. Sometimes this can seem like a scary process to a young child, especially with the strange-looking tools, the masks the doctors and dental hygienists wear, and the screeching noises of drills and other dental machines. Getting your child comfortable with their dentist visits, though, is important to helping them develop a healthy mindset about their appointments later in life.
A child’s first dental appointment should generally be scheduled before their first birthday, or six months after their first tooth emerges. The initial childhood appointments are generally brief, and include initial discussions with you about your child’s habits (thumb sucking or other habits), as well as their teething process. Our dentists will also discuss good dental hygiene practices for toddler-age kids, as well as perform an early assessment of how their teeth are coming in to identify any issues or concerns.
More thorough cleanings and X-rays will generally be scheduled after your child’s first few appointments, unless there are concerns found during the initial assessment. By the time your child gets old enough to walk and talk on their own, they should have had several dental appointments, and by the time they reach school age, most children have become comfortable and familiar with both dental appointments and our friendly, personable dental staff.
At Genesee Dental, we love kids, and we do everything we can to make your son or daughter feel comfortable and at ease during their first and early childhood appointments. Our patient room for children is decorated with fun animals and provides extra space for you to stay in the room with them in case they get scared or are nervous. Plus, with our flexible scheduling, we can help accommodate your child’s appointment within your busy schedule.
Start your child off early on a path to a lifetime of dental health. Call us today at 585-343-1113 to discuss your child’s first appointment, or schedule a visit online today!