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Scheduling Regular Dental/Oral Appointments
Parents Section
When Should Children First See a Dentist
What to Expect at a Child's Dental Visit
How to Find a Dentist
- The frequency of routine dental visits
should be based on individual need – some people will need to see the
dentist more often than others.
When Should Children First See a Dentist?
- "First visit by first birthday" sums it up.
Children should visit a pediatric dentist when the first tooth comes in,
usually between six and twelve months of age. Early examination and
preventive care will protect a child’s smile now and in the future.
What to Expect at a
Child’s Dental Visit.
- Health professionals can perform a screening
of the lips, tongue, teeth, gums, inside the cheeks, and the roof of the
mouth to identify oral disease, especially tooth decay or other oral
conditions and to provide guidance for management of oral health. An oral
health screening takes only 2-3 minutes.
- A dental chair is not needed to perform a
screening. For infants and children under age 3, the health professional and
parent should sit face to face with their knees touching, with the child
placed in the health professional’s and the parent’s lap. The child’s head
should be nestled securely against the health professional’s abdomen, with
the child facing the parent.
- By age 3, children are able to lie
flat on an examination table or sit in the parent's lap, with both the child
and the parent facing the health professional, so the parent can help
position and steady the child.
How to Find a Dentist.
- Ask family, friends, neighbors or
co-workers for recommendations.
- Ask the family physician or local
pharmacist.
- If moving, the current dentist may be
able to make recommendations.
- Call or write the local or state
dental society. Local and state dentist societies also may be listed in the
telephone directories under “dentists” or “associations”.
- Use the American Dental Association
Member Directory to search for dentists in your area. Find the American
Dental Association website at
http://www.ada.org
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Children's Fear of the Dentist
Parents Section
Any anxiety displayed by parents will be "picked up" by the child. An unfriendly
dentist can cause unnecessary fear in the child. It is best to take the child to
a pediatric dentist who has specialized in working with children. If the
community does not have a pediatric dentist, the parent should make sure that
the dentist has worked with young children. Don't tell your child that something
will hurt or be painful. Stress to children how important it is to maintain
healthy teeth and gums and that the dentist is a friendly doctor whose job is to
help do this.
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