Calming Children's Fears: Making the First Dental Visit a Fun One

As soon as a child grows his or her first teeth, a trip to the dentist's office is warranted. The child may be barely two years old, however, so any examination by a stranger is an intimidating experience. Make the first dental visit a fun one by trying these basic tips. Children's fears will fade away.

Choosing a Kid-Friendly Office

Perform some research by visiting several pediatric dental offices in your area without your child. Walk in and survey the interior space. Try to put yourself in your child's shoes. If you don't feel instantly comfortable in the office, your child will have the same sensation.

A kid-friendly office won't look like a dental facility. Brightly colored walls, toys and even playground equipment might dot the waiting room. These distractions make the facility look welcoming to every child.

Trying a "Visit" First

Making a traditional appointment with a dentist may not work for your child. The act of physically walking into the office can be stressful enough for some children. Think about making an appointment where you and your child merely visit with the dentist. A short chat is a great way to create a relationship. The meeting doesn't feel intimidating. The child simply learns the dentist's name and favorite things to do. The next visit can entail some evaluations.

Stepping Into the Dental World

Explain to your child that the next appointment will involve an evaluation of the mouth. Because the child sees the dentist as a friend from the first meeting, an evaluation isn't too stressful to think about. Make your second appointment and show up a little bit early. Allow the child to play and enjoy the surroundings. You might introduce the child to the dental chair as you walk into the backroom. Creating a casual atmosphere puts everyone at ease, including the child.

Finishing off the Appointment

Leave the child with a positive feeling after the first dental visit is over. The dentist should give the child a treat or prize from a treasure chest. Rewarding the child healthy foods that improve dental health can be a very positive gesture. During the next appointment, the child will have practically no stress regarding the visit. The dentist's office is a fun place to go.

If you're wondering if there's a kids dentist near me, be proactive and perform an online search in your area. Many dental professionals gear their practices toward children, which makes your visit an easy one to complete. Simply try a dentist that you've researched as thoroughly as possible. You may find the perfect individual after only one try.

Dentist Serving Children With Special Needs

Do you have young children with down syndrome or social phobias? If so, then it is important to find a special needs dentist who is prepared to accommodate you and your child. If you search online for a “kids dentist near me,” how can you know if the dentist will be one who is trained to serve children with special needs? There are several items you can look for to assess whether the pediatric dental group will be able to support your family.

1. Offers pre-appointments. A pre-appointment is a time for your child to discover that the dentist’s office is a safe place. Your family will get the chance to see the spaces your child will encounter, meet the special needs dentist, and familiarize yourselves with any tools that the doctor utilizes to help children through the appointment. This experience will allow your child to feel comfortable in the dentist’s environment.
2. Provides a dentist with specialized training.Only a few pediatric dental groups in your area will have a dentist who is specifically trained to work with children who have special needs. You could even ask the dentist what types of special needs children is he or she accustomed to working with.
3. Maintains accessible office space.If your child is in a wheelchair, accessibility is most likely very important to you. Visit the office prior to your 1st appointment to ensure that your child can get around the office space without too much disruption. Check that the office has adequate thresholds, doorway widths and stability equipment to care for all your child’s needs.
4. Gives sedation if needed. Often, a special needs dentist offers various levels of sedation to adequately care for your child during should anxiousness or proceed complexity appear to be an issue. Options range from mild sedation to general anesthesia. Discuss your needs and preferences with your dentist.
5. Cites various experience. If the dentist and staff have worked extensively with a range of children with special needs, they may have strategies to handle common and unexpected needs. They will be more likely to have the ability to support your child. The pediatric dental group might even offer advice on oral care at home for your child with special needs.

Watch this video: Special Needs Dentist in Bucks County

The special needs dentist that is right for you is willing and eager to serve your family. Find someone who will meet you, who shows training and experience, and who operates in a supportive space with the sedation options your child needs. Search “kids dentist near me,” and check out the results to find the pediatric dental group that is right for you.

Dental Sealants Protect Your Childs Teeth

Dental sealant are a thin, protective coating that is painted on the chewing surfaces of teeth – mostly on the back teeth – to help prevent tooth decay. Sealants bond quickly into the grooves and depressions of the teeth, forming a defensive shield over the tooth enamel. Even though thorough flossing and brushing often remove the majority of plaque and food particles from the teeth’s smooth surfaces, simple hygiene does not always get into all the nooks and crannies of the back teeth to get rid of plaque and food particles. Sealants can help protect these crucial areas from tooth decay by sealing out food and plaque.

Who Needs to Get Dental Sealants?

Because developing decay in the grooves and depressions of the molars and premolars is more common in children, they are good candidates for sealants. But adults without fillings or decay in their molars can also benefit from sealants. Typically, children need to get sealants on their permanent premolars and molars once these teeth have established themselves in the dental arch. Applying sealants too soon may leave the lower portion of the tooth unprotected.

When the baby teeth of a child have deep grooves and depressions or when the child has poor dental hygiene habits, sealants are often recommended by the pediatric dentist in Newtown. Since baby teeth play a very important role in holding the correct spacing for permanent teeth, it is important that these teeth be kept healthy so they are not lost too soon.

How are Dental Sealants Applied?

Applying dental sealants is a relatively painless and simple process, so it should not be feared by kids or their parents. It will only take a few minutes for the dentist or hygienist to apply the sealant to seal every tooth. The procedure starts by thoroughly cleaning the teeth to be sealed. Every tooth is then dried by an absorbent material.

The dentist will put an acidic solution on the chewing surfaces of the teeth to roughen them up slightly and this helps the sealant bond to the enamel. The sealant is then painted onto the enamel of the tooth, where it will directly bond to the tooth and harden. At times, a special curing light is used to facilitate the hardening process.

How Long Do Dental Sealants Last?

When properly applied and cared for, dental sealants can protect teeth from decay for up to a decade. However, they need to be regularly checked for erosion and chipping during dental check-ups. Your kids dentist in Pennington can replace sealants as necessary. Most insurance companies do cover the cost of dental sealants, so check with your insurance carrier first to determine if sealants are covered under your particular insurance plan.

Dental sealants offer a great way to protect the teeth of your kids, especially during those years when they are highly prone to teeth decay and damage. It is good news that the pediatric dentistry world has come up with options like sealants to help ensure good dental health. Visit your pediatric dental offices in Langhorne or in your area now to get more information about dental sealants.