First Visit

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend the first dental visit at age one or six months after the eruption of the first baby tooth. A dental visit at this young age allows us to establish a relationship with you and your child, to detect habits that might create future problems, and to create a comfortable “Dental Home” to insure good prevention and care. Positive experiences early in life help to create a foundation of trust and healthy dental habits for the future.

If your child is already starting to talk before his/her first dental visit with us, you can help shape the experience and make it more enjoyable. Please speak to your child before the visit and explain that the dentist and the dental team will answer all questions and will explain all procedures so that “nothing will be a surprise.” “We will count, brush and paint.” Be positive and remember that your tone is almost more important than your words. If you feel comfortable about the dental visit, then your child is more likely to feel comfortable as well. We have found that it is most beneficial to foster trust, not to use words that might cause fear such as “pain,” “needle,” and “drill.” Instead, every doctor and every team member in this practice is trained to use positive and non-frightening words that convey a similar message without the negative connotation.

Please assure your child that the dentist and the dental team are his/her friends and that we will be gentle. It is useful to remind him/her that we have a fun office with TV’s on the ceiling where he/she can watch his/her favorite show, iPads, and many toys to play with. Being relaxed and having a nice time is part of the dental visit!

One of our goals at Bright Healthy Smiles is to gain your child’s confidence and dissipate all anxiety so all dental visits can be a pleasant experience and foster a lifetime of good dental habits.

If you have any questions prior to your child’s visit, please call us so we can answer them and address any worries you might have.