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First visit to a Dentist
First Dental visit
IDA recommends that your child's first trip to a dentist must occur six months after
his or her first tooth erupts to ensure a lifetime of healthy smiles. Taking your
child to the dentist at a young age is the best way to prevent problems such as
tooth decay and can help parents learn how to clean their child's teeth and identify
his or her fluoride needs.
After all, decay can occur as soon as teeth appear. Dentist can examine the development
of the child's mouth, identify any problems (such as baby bottle tooth decay or
teething irritations). It's important to fix decayed baby teeth so the surrounding
teeth don't become infected. Cavities that are not fixed can lead to painful abscesses,
early tooth loss, as well as the loss of spacing needed to be reserved for the incoming
permanent teeth.
This leads to a lifetime of good oral care habits and acclimates your child to the
dental clinic, thereby reducing anxiety and fear, which will make for plenty of
stress-free visits in the future. Typically, the first baby tooth is lost between
age 5 and 6, with children continuing to lose their baby teeth until age 12 or 13.
Many people are under the impression that, because these baby teeth will eventually
fall out, there is no need to visit a dentist before that time.
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Prepare child and yourself
Before the visit, ask the dentist about the procedures of the first appointment
so there are no surprises. Plan a course of action for either reaction your child
may exhibit – cooperative or non- cooperative. Very young children may be fussy
and not sit still. Talk to your child about what to expect and build excitement
as well as understanding about the upcoming visit. Bring with you to the appointment
any records of your child's complete medical history.
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Early Dental Visits Helps Prevent Future Problems
- The earlier the child visits the dentist, the better it is. Parents are taught about
nutrition and the growth and development of the child and their teeth.
- While age-1 visits are recommended for all children, they could prove especially
beneficial for children who drink liquids other than water. Acids and sugars in
juices, formulas and breast milk can all lead to decay. Visiting the dentist at
age 1 helps spot early signs of decay and cavities in baby teeth. It could also
help put a major dent in childhood oral disease, which often results in lifelong
problems that are painful, expensive and not just limited to the mouth.
- The age-1 visit won't just involve the child – parents also participate, typically
holding the child while the dentist takes a look inside the child's mouth. The dentist
will then spend time discussing proper eating and tooth-care habits with parents
to help head the child in the right direction, so future dental visits aren't so
scary.
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Build a positive attitude
Parents must have a positive attitude will empower a child to a lifetime of positive
dental experiences. Parent with severe dental anxieties should have make every effort
not to pass those fears to the child. Fearful parents can actually create a nervous
and anxious child.
Most children are not only comfortable but even curious during a first dental exam
and cavity-filling procedures. However, a child may become problematic when the
accompanying parent hints of fear or anxiety and relays incorrect assumptions about
procedures.
Parents' presence is support or the child not only during the first exam but until
the age of 4, for restorative treatments. Pretreatment meetings with a dentist provide
directions and guidelines for the parentabout the needed treatment for the child.
Parents must learn how to provide moral support and to maintain a low, calm voice.
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