Dental Visit - What You Should Know

Also, phone the dentist in advance and discuss the appointment with him. Remind him to remove his surgical mask when he greets her, a masked man can be quite frightening for a toddler.

Also check that he has the same approach to introducing her to dental checkups as you do. It is very important that you understand each other, and that he has some understanding of your child’s personality, as well as any anxieties or fears she might have.

Her first visit will, in all likelihood last no more than about five minutes. The dentist will probably give her a mirror and ask her to help him count her teeth, while he has a quick look see, and he will probably entertain her by moving the chair around.

That will be that. It should get easier with each visit, as your daughter allows the dentist to do a more thorough check, provided you have a positive attitude toward the experience.

If that does not work, a special treat as a reward for good behavior works wonders. If your child is involved in a contact sport such as rugby or soccer, where his teeth are likely to be knocked out or broken, you might want to consider having a mouth guard for him.

This involves a visit to the dentist; he takes an impression of your child’s teeth and then makes up a rigid protective mouth guard that fits snugly over the teeth and gums to protect them.

This really is a worth while investment to safeguard his teeth for the future. Dentists also happily make up bite guards for children who grins their teeth. This activity is usually reserved for when they are asleep, and makes the most alarming noise; it is likely to set your teeth in edge.

Apart from the noise, tooth grinding can wear away at the enamel and weaken the teeth, so a bite guard is essential if you have a habitual tooth grinder in the family. Now, all you have to do is persuade them to go to bed wearing it.