How to prepare your child for the first dental appointment

🧒🦷 How to Prepare Your Child for Their First Dental Visit
A child’s first dental appointment can set the tone for a lifetime of healthy smiles. The first dental appointment should be scheduled within 6 months of the first tooth coming in (erupting), or atleast by their first birthday. Why so early? As soon as your baby has teeth, he or she can get cavities. Here’s how you can make it a positive, stress-free experience:

✨ 1. Talk Positively
Use gentle, encouraging words when talking about the dentist. Avoid terms like “pain” or “injection.” Instead, speak of a friendly visit to help keep their teeth strong and happy. Please do not use negative statements like, "the dentist will give you an injection if you are not quiet." You may show pictures or videos of children enjoying their visit to the dentist.

📘 2. Read & Role Play
Storybooks or pretend play can help your child understand what to expect. Let them be the "dentist" with their toys first—it makes everything feel familiar and fun! Have your child practice opening his or her mouth to get ready for the dentist to check the mouth.

👩‍⚕️ 3. Pick the Right Time
Schedule the appointment when your child is usually well-rested and not hungry or cranky. A calm mood makes a big difference! Bring some healthy snacks and a comfort item of the child (toy, blanket) to the appointment. Do not schedule appointments during their nap time!

🪥 4. Avoid Overpreparing
Sometimes, too much explanation can create anxiety. Keep it simple and upbeat. Also, do not tell them about the appointment too much in advance as kids' imagination can run wild.

💬 5. Stay Calm & Supportive
Your child will take cues from you. If you’re relaxed, they’ll feel safe and secure too.

How to prepare yourself?

Discuss your concerns with the dentist. Inform the dentist of your child's fear, anxieties and tantrums. If your child is special-needs, then please inform the dentist before arriving at the clinic. If you have dental anxieties, be careful not to relate those fears or dislikes to your child.

At Crown’d Dental Clinic, we love working with little ones and making their first visit gentle, playful, and fear-free. Our goal? To help them leave with a big smile and maybe even ask, “When can we come back?”