Parents often delay a first dental visit because they assume something will be done to their child. Usually nothing is. The first appointment is mostly about making the room, the chair and the dentist unremarkable — so that if treatment is ever needed, it is not happening in a frightening place for the first time.
When to come
Earlier than most people think: around the time the first teeth appear, and certainly by the first birthday. That sounds very early for a mouth with two teeth in it, and the reason is not the teeth. It is familiarity, plus a chance to catch habits — bedtime bottles, sugary drinks — before they have caused damage.
What actually happens
- We say hello properly. Your child meets the dentist while nothing is expected of them.
- They sit in the chair — often on a parent's lap for very young children — and we let them see it move.
- We count the teeth. That is genuinely how we describe it, and often that is all the first visit involves.
- A quick look at teeth, gums and how the bite is developing.
- Fluoride, if appropriate and if your child is comfortable.
- A short chat with you about brushing, diet and what to expect next.
If your child is not willing to sit in the chair, that is not a failed appointment. Sometimes the win is that they came in, looked around and left cheerful. The second visit is nearly always easier.
The words not to use
This is the single most useful thing a parent can do, and it is counter-intuitive.
Avoid pain, hurt, needle, injection, drill and pull — even in reassurance. Telling a child “don't worry, it won't hurt” plants the idea that hurting was on the table. A child who arrives having been reassured about pain is usually more anxious than one who was simply told they are going to have their teeth counted.
Try instead: we're going to see the dentist, they're going to count your teeth and check they're strong. Then let us use our own words for anything else.
If you are nervous yourself
Children read a parent's anxiety extremely quickly — tone, posture, grip. If dentists make you uneasy, it is worth another adult bringing them, or simply telling us so we are aware. There is no judgement in it; a lot of adults feel that way, often because of how their own early visits went.
Things worth knowing
Baby teeth matter
The belief that decay in baby teeth does not count because they fall out anyway is common and wrong. Decayed baby teeth hurt, can become infected, disturb sleep and school, and if lost too early let adult teeth drift into the wrong position.
Frequency beats quantity with sugar
One sweet thing with a meal does far less damage than the same amount sipped or nibbled across the day. Every exposure restarts an acid attack on the enamel. Juice in a bottle throughout the afternoon is worse than a piece of cake after lunch.
Help them brush until about seven
Young children do not have the manual dexterity to brush effectively, however willing they are. Let them start, then finish the job yourself. Twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, and spit rather than rinse.
Booking
Tell us it is a first visit when you book, and tell us if your child is anxious — we will allow extra time. See children's dentistry for what we offer, or book an appointment.