When should I take my child to the dentist?
As a parent, you would always want the best for your children, even with their health especially oral health. Their questions are always, when is the best time to take my child to a dentist? Experts recommend taking them at 6 months after the first tooth has erupted or before your child’s first birthday or 12 months. Parents may be amazed by how early they should take them to the dentists, this introduces them to good dental habits and grows up with great oral health. In cases when children reach 12 months and still have no teeth it is still recommended to see a dentist.
It is beneficial for young children to see the dentist at a young age, this will get them accustomed and will minimize the fear that adults have when seeing a dentist.
On the first visit, the dentist will make it fun for the little ones to make sure they get familiar with the dentist and the people around them and get them excited when they come for their next visit. Early dentists visit also educates the parents, they will be taught on how to clean the infant’s teeth properly, feeding habits that can prevent tooth damage, and recommendations on how to control sucking on finger and pacifier.
The dentist will examine any signs of tooth decay and any abnormalities in the jaw or gums, this also applies in infants without erupted teeth. Full oral prophylaxis may not be done on
younger children, dentist will wait until they are comfortable in their visit.
For Parents
Prepare your child:
Morning appointments are better because your child is attentive and fresh, for older children give him general information about the dentist visit to build confidence and understanding.
When you arrive at the dentist office, let your dentist know our concerns, If you as a parent have dental anxieties, remember that your child’s first dental visit can be different from yours, do not to compare it with your fears, because your child can feel your fears and be afraid themselves.
Prepare yourself
Discuss your questions and concerns with the dentist. Remember that your feeling toward dental visits can be quite different from your child’s. Be honest with your view of the dentist. If you have dental anxieties, be careful not to relate those fears or dislikes to your child. Parents need to give moral support by staying calm while in the dental exam room. Children can pick up their parents’ anxieties and become anxious themselves.
For visits that concern restoration such as fillings, inform your dentist on how your child behaves and reacts to such situations, observe your child’s reactions towards the procedure, the reactions may vary depending on their age.
· 10 to 24 months. Some children may be upset parents take them to the dentist.
· 2 to 3 years. May be able to deal with separation from their parents
· 3 years. It May not be ok for them to be away from their parents when having dental procedures.
· 4 years. Children can be separated from parents for dental examinations and procedures.
Therefore for parents who are unaware of the appropriate age to take their child to the dentist, is 6 months after their first teeth have erupted, or even if they have no erupted teeth in the 12th month, you still have to take them for consultation. Most parents neglect dental care on their children during the early stages of their teeth, they only bring them to the dentist when the child is experiencing a toothache or suffer from cavities, this develops anxiety in children when they visit the dentist. This is to inform other parents about the importance of seriously taking their child’s dental health at an early stage.
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