As your child grows in our friendly environment, you’ll want to remember these tips:
Regular Visits: Hold on! Don’t roll your eyes just yet! Regular dental check-ups with a pediatric dentist will get your child used to a dental setting in a comfortable and familiar way. Children who grow up following a routine of regular check-ups are more likely to carry over the habit of routine dental care into adulthood.
One + One = Two. We invite one parent to stay with their child during an examination or cleaning appointment. For the safety and privacy of the patient, other children not being treated should remain in the guest lounge with a supervising adult.
Note: Parents are required to wait in our guest lounge when treatment involves sedation or general anesthesia. You will rejoin your child post-operatively for recovery.
Be calm and Let us Carry On. Allow us to focus 100% of our attention on your child and vice versa creating the ideal environment for building a secure and comfortable relationship with them.
Role-play—Pretend to be a dentist or patient.
Read about it! Be about it! Sprout’s Book Club
Avoid using scary words/phrases such as “needle,” “shot,” “pinch,” “pull,” “drill,” “sting,” or “yank,” and phrases such as “The doctor isn’t going to hurt you”. These words suggest an unpleasant experience that may not have occurred to your child until you mentioned it. Expect your child to do well and enjoy the first visit and chances are, they will. Try saying, “We are going to have fun at the dentist. You will play, get your teeth brushed and counted, and then you can play some more if you want to.”
Show and Tell—make a food list with drawings that show us what your child has been eating to keep their teeth healthy.
Special Healthcare Needs (SHCN) patients— show your child photos from our website of our dental home, dentist, and staff to promote familiarity and reduce anxiety.
Bring a little piece of home: a blanket, teddy bear, headphones, or small toy from home can reduce your child’s nervousness.
Dr. Michelle Anderson is a pediatric dentist board certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.
