Going to the pediatric dentist near me in Mill Creek for the first time can be scary for both parent and child. There is a mixture of excitement and anxiety, and you both need to understand what’s going on.
For your little one, the “first trip” maybe just be the first one that they remember. It’s still important to treat it like it’s the first ever trip to the dentist. Here’s what you can do to help prepare your child.
Make Sure You Have the Right Dentist
While getting a pediatric dentist near me in Mill Creek is important, you can’t just choose the first one you find. You need to make sure they’re the right dentist for your family. This starts off with making sure they are a pediatric dentist, and that they have training and experience in treating smaller mouths. There is additional training to qualify as a pediatric dentist due to the way the shape is different and due to the different needs with the first sets of teeth.
Discuss the Visit Coming Up
One of the best ways to get your child ready is to talk about it. Let them know about the visit and share positive things about the trip. You want to make sure you use reassuring language, focusing on how much the dentist will help with health and the teeth.
This sets up your children in the future. They won’t look at the pediatric dentist near me in Mill Creek with fear and apprehension. Instead, they look at the trips with a little more excitement because they’re doing something good for their health.
Watch Videos and Read Books About It
Your children are not the first to get scared about going to the dentist. There are plenty of books and videos all about the first trip to the dentist. This helps to normalize the entire experience, as children realize that there are others who have done it first.
Look out for videos and books that focus on the first trip to start with. This helps to get rid of the initial anxiety. Then you can build up to videos about specific treatments, especially if your children find out they need a filling.
Focus on Healthy Oral Hygiene at Home
Good oral hygiene starts in the house. A good pediatric dentist near me in Mill Creek won’t judge for the state of the teeth, especially at first. They are there to teach and guide. If you don’t really know what you’re doing for younger children, that’s ok! Ask your dentist about it.
You can encourage your children to ask questions as well. The more they understand, the more they follow through at home. As children become more confident in looking after their teeth, they’ll be more confident about going to the dentist.
The first trip to a pediatric dentist near me in Mill Creek does bring up a mixture of emotions. It’s okay to feel them all, but you can also help your children get excited for this first trip.
