Taking your child to the dentist for the very first time is a milestone. So when yours reaches two years of age, it’s time to start planning your very first trip to the dentist. However, this trip can be scary for any toddler.
Unfamiliar faces, strange shiny instruments, a big chair and loud noises can spook your toddler and make him shy away from dental visits for life. You wouldn’t want that to happen. So here are a few tips to help you and your toddler out:
* Don’t bring your kid to your own dentist.
It can be tempting to simply use the same dentist so you can all get your dental appointments at the same time. However, kids have different dental needs that must be addressed. So it’s best to start looking around for a pediatric dentist in Plantation.
* Set a friendly first meet between your kid and the dentist.
When you do find a dentist, use the first visit to allow your kids to meet their dentist in a non-threatening way. Unless there’s a dental emergency, there’s very little treatment that would happen but it can put your kid at ease in a major way.
This gives your child the chance to build a solid relationship with his dentist, says WebMD, which can help dispel fear with any future visits.
* Give yourself a headstart.
Start looking for a dentist a few months or weeks before your toddler turns two. That way, when it’s finally time to make the trip, you’ll be all set and ready instead of having to scramble around, still looking for dentists in the area.
Don’t wait until a dental emergency pushes you and your kid to make the trip. That could set your kid to fear dental visits for life, which is the last thing you want.
