Preparing Your Child For Their First Dental Visit

At Callie + Michael Romenesko, A Family Dental Studio, we are happy to see and treat every member of your family, and that includes the youngest members of your family, even if they only have one tooth. Do you know when you should bring a child in for their first dental visit? You can bring them in as early as when their first tooth emerges, but some parents choose to bring their child in around their first birthday. If your child is older than one and still has not visited the dentist, do not worry! It’s not too late to call and schedule an appointment for them.

Regardless of your child’s age, the first dental visit can be a little stressful, and our office can seem intimidating. Here are some helpful tips to ensure that your child has a calm and comfortable first visit to our office:

Schedule Appropriately
We recommend scheduling the appointment at a time that is beneficial to your child. We suggest avoiding mealtimes, nap times, and immediately after a long day at school or daycare. If your child is not in good spirits when they arrive because of an outside circumstance, it can lead to a stressful visit for everyone involved.

Remain Positive
We know that some of our adult patients don’t love visiting our office, but it’s important to remember that, even though you may have some anxiety, your child doesn’t have to. Be sure to speak positively about the dentist and what may happen during their visit. It is important that our office be portrayed as a safe space and for children to know that the dentist is a helpful adult.

Introduce the Dentist
There are several materials available to introduce the dentist and explain what happens during an appointment. Many popular characters have children’s books and videos available showing what to expect. You can also visit our website to see what the dentists at the practice look like.

We hope these tips help you with your child’s first dentist appointment. If you are in Appleton, WI or the surrounding area and you or a loved one is in need of a routine examination, please call our office to schedule an appointment today. We can’t wait to see you and your loved one soon!