YOUR CHILD’S FIRST VISIT
KICK-START LIFELONG HEALTHY HABITS
CREATE POSITIVE DENTAL EXPERIENCES
SET THEM UP FOR OPTIMAL ORAL HEALTH
Start early to encourage positive relationships with dental care
THE FOUNDATION FOR A LIFETIME OF GOOD ORAL HEALTH
When you start your child’s dental visits early, you encourage a lifelong positive relationship with dentistry. Those early visits instill good oral hygiene habits and a sense of fun and adventure at the dental office. This greatly decreases the chances that your child will experience future dental-related anxiety. If you’re proactive with dental care with your children, they will model that behavior into adulthood and enjoy the benefits of a healthy smile.
When to Schedule Your Child’s First Visit
AAPD RECOMMENDATIONS
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that parents should make an initial “well baby” appointment with a pediatric dentist within six months of the first tooth emerging or no later than the child’s first birthday. We Make Kids Smile agrees with this recommendation and is happy to provide oral health care to infants. When it comes to babies’ appointments, it is much more about keeping your child comfortable and evaluating the teeth they have than it is about performing actual dental treatments. We will pay close attention to your child’s comfort level to ensure they are happy throughout their visit.
The All-Important First Appointment
WHAT TO EXPECT
Wondering what to expect at your child’s first dental visit? Our team will make sure they have a positive and comfortable experience. As a pediatric dental office, you’ll find a warm, friendly, fun space designed to keep kids engaged and relaxed.
Infants and small children can sit on their parent’s lap for appointments. Usually, after a few visits, toddlers are happy to sit in the big chair by themselves, but parents may remain in the treatment room for comfort.
No matter the age of the child, we’ll perform a cleaning at the first visit. For babies and toddlers, this is a simple process using a small toothbrush. Older children will receive a professional cleaning and polish with the polishing cup.
Catching Up on Dental Care
APPOINTMENTS FOR OLDER CHILDREN
If your child is over the age of 2 and hasn’t seen a dentist yet, don’t despair. It’s never too late to start, and it’s great that you are considering bringing your child to the dentist now. The team at We Make Kids Smile will welcome you and your child whenever you’re ready for a fresh start.
When it comes to older children, we’ll take radiographs (X-rays) if the evaluation shows a need to. We use digital X-rays at our practice, which emit significantly lower radiation and are much faster and more comfortable than traditional film X-rays. This minimizes exposure and improves safety for our young patients.
Getting Ready for the First Visit
TIPS TO PREPARE YOUR KIDS
There are some things you can do as a parent to prepare your child for a great first dental visit. First of all, let them know what’s happening in advance in child-appropriate language so they know what to expect. Explain to them that the first dental appointment is going to be fun! You can also explain that it’s important to look after teeth and why.
Some ways to encourage your child to be excited about their upcoming dental visit include:
- Role-play the dental visit using your child’s favorite toys.
- Read books together about their favorite characters going to the dentist.
- Watch some YouTube videos of your child’s favorite characters brushing their teeth and preparing for dental visits.
- Demonstrate toothbrushing and help your child learn how to brush properly.
- Make the first dental visit an adventure and let your child choose a new toothbrush as a reward for the day.
We can’t wait to see you at We Make Kids Smile!
High-quality dental care your family can afford
We Make Kids Smile accepts credit cards, cash, and most insurance plans. Contact our friendly team today to double-check your specific insurance benefits.
Need a flexible payment option?
Our dental office also accepts CareCredit. CareCredit is a health care credit card with flexible financing options so you can pay off your treatment over time.
*Terms and conditions for credit approval apply.
