Despite fact that your child will begin to visit the dentist on a regular basis around the age of one, their first dental cleaning will most likely take place a little later, once the bulk of the baby teeth have emerged. Normally this is somewhere between the age of 12 - 36 months.
Preparing Your Child for Their First Dental Cleaning
It's important to spend some time talking with your child about what will take place before the first cleaning visit happens. Talk to children about the significance of keeping their teeth healthy, and describe what the dentist will do in language that is suitable for their age and stage of development.
You might want to try and keep it basic. Providing too many details may cause your youngster to get concerned. Most of the time, we recommend that parents say something along the lines of:
"The dentist is going to look at your teeth, count them, and make sure they are healthy and strong. The dentist’s name is Dr. Doctor. They are really nice!"
If dentist appointments are a source of worry for you, try not to express your feelings to your child. When it comes to responding to new experiences, they look to you for direction. If you appear to be concerned, they will be as well.
During the Appointment
We encourage you to speak with us in advance and tell us a little about your child's personality. Do they have a tendency to be afraid or rebellious when confronted with unknown situations? Does your child have any attachment or developmental concerns that we should be aware of and address during the appointment?
The more information we have, the more we will be able to cater to your child's individual requirements and ensure that they receive the care that they require.
At the beginning of the session, we will inspect your child's teeth, jaws, gums, and bite to ensure that they are in good health. If there are any noticeable concerns, we will work with you to develop a treatment plan.
In addition, we will use specialized devices to remove plaque and tartar from the teeth, exactly like we do with adult patients.
We will give you recommendations for correct brushing and flossing techniques. Whether your child washes and flosses his own teeth or you still do it for them, it never hurts to get a refresher course on the subject.
Please feel free to ask any questions you may have concerning your child's oral health or any impending dental treatments during the visit.
Following the completion of the exam and cleaning, we will schedule any required follow-up visits.