Prepare Your Child for First Visit to a Pediatric Dentist in East Cobb

Parents are responsible for looking after their children’s health. This means taking them to pediatricians for regular checkups and getting them the necessary vaccinations and immunizations, among other things. However, parents shouldn’t take their children’s dental health for granted. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry suggests dental visits for kids as early as possible.

“In order to prevent dental problems, your child should see a pediatric dentist when the first tooth appears, or no later than his/her first birthday.”

Some parents can’t help but be surprised by this. Some of them believe that since kids’ milk teeth are designed to fall out anyway, a dental visit at such an early age is, to say the least, a waste of time and effort. However, parents have to remember that tooth decay can develop as soon as a child’s first tooth erupts, and when this is left untreated, it can result in pain or worse, infection.

For most toddlers though, the trip to the dentist can be scary as they will find themselves in a new setting with unfamiliar people. In addition, the loud noises in the dental office and the strange-looking instruments are likely to be unsettling for them. If parents worry how they can take their kids to a pediatric dentist in East Cobb without any problem, here are tips to keep in mind:

Act out the scenario

Since toddlers are too young to understand the concept of a dental visit, what parents can do is act the scene out using stuffed toys and kiddie flashlights. Once done, parents can have their toddlers take on the dentist’s role and pretend to check the stuffed animals’ teeth. Doing this repeatedly can help familiarize them with the actual scenario.

Gather the kids’ favorite toys

Parents more or less have an idea which toys their kids prefer the most. Thus, it would help if they gather all of these in one bag to bring to the session. This way, they can easily show any of the toys to their kids whenever the latter begin to show signs of annoyance or are on the verge of a crying fit. Promising a trip to an amusement park like Six Flags can also help.

Still, these tips can only go so far. Taking the kids to dental practitioners who are especially trained in the field of dentistry for children in East Cobb will help the most. Pediatric dental professionals like Dr. Brent Herrin from Herrin Pediatric Dentist ensure quality service in an extremely kid-friendly environment at their office, complete with treat provisions after the appointment.

(Source: When should I take my child to the dentist for the first check-up?, aapd.org)