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First adaptive visit for children
Parents want the best for their children. They try to build healthy habits from an early age. One of them is proper dental care and oral hygiene. We should also not forget about visits to the dentist's office. Many children are afraid of dentists. Mainly because they only ended up in the dentist's chair when their teeth required treatment. Fear of the dentist can be avoided with adaptive visits. Their main goal is to build trust and familiarize the young patient with the dental office.
Child's first visit to the dentist
Many young patients end up in the dentist's chair only when the condition of their teeth requires dental intervention. This is a big mistake because the little patient is discouraged from having his teeth treated. Not only does the child find himself in a new stressful situation, but the treatment itself is not pleasant. For this reason, it is recommended that the child first be brought for a so-called adaptation visit. It is best to do this before the baby turns two years old. During such a visit, trust is built between the young patient and the doctor. The child becomes acquainted with a specific, new environment, such as the dentist's office. He also gets used to the actions of the dentist who examines and cleans his teeth. Thanks to adaptive visits, the child learns that the dentist's office is not scary, and we, as parents, slowly build healthy dental care habits.
At Medicover Stomatologia, the little patient will receive a reward after the visit. We give diplomas, small toys, stickers.
Why is a child's adaptive visit to the dentist important?
The vast majority of children are afraid of the dentist. They associate a visit to the dentist's office with pain and the unpleasant sound of drilling in the teeth, and the dentist does not inspire them to trust such associations not only with children, but also with a significant number of adults. Negative childhood experiences related to dental treatment at the dentist result in avoiding it in adulthood, which is not good for the condition of our teeth. Therefore, it is worth taking advantage of your child's adaptive visits to the dentist. Then the child will gain positive experiences related to the dentist's office. You won't be terrified of it or avoid it, pretending that the sick tooth doesn't hurt, and cooperation between the doctor and the little patient will be much easier during treatment. Moreover, a child who is not afraid of the dentist will grow into an adult for whom regular visits to the dentist will be normal.
The course of the adaptation visit
The adaptation visit should be pleasant and stress-free for the child. A good pediatric dentist can approach a young patient in an appropriate way. He will satisfy his curiosity, show him dental tools and explain what his job is.
The main goal of the adaptation visit is to accustom the little patient to the dental office itself and build trust. An equally important goal of such a visit is prevention. The doctor tells the toddler about proper oral hygiene and why it is so important. This conversation is intended to encourage your child to brush their teeth at home every day. Of course, the level of conversation depends on the child's age and is adapted to it. At the end of the visit, if the child is ready, the dentist examines his or her teeth and performs minor activities, such as cleaning or fluoridating the teeth. It's a good idea for your child to visit the dentist at least a few times before treatment is needed. Moreover, thanks to regular visits to the dentist's office, the doctor will quickly detect carious lesions, making the treatment less invasive.
Parental education is also an important aspect of the adaptation visit. They should be aware of how important proper oral hygiene is for their baby and that they should take care of their teeth as soon as they appear. It's a good idea to take your baby to the dentist before all the baby teeth erupt.
During the adaptation visit, parents may, but do not have to, be present in the dental office. A lot depends on the child himself. Parents can provide a great sense of security, but they can also distract the child and hinder the proper course of the visit. An experienced pediatric dentist can assess whether the parents' presence is advisable or not. Therefore, it is worth listening to his request to stay or leave the office.
How to prepare your child for the first visit to the dentist?
Parents have a huge influence on their child. If a toddler hears that mom or dad is afraid to go to the dentist, he or she will most likely become afraid of it too. Even if he has never had any contact with a dentist before. Therefore, let's set a good example for the child and do not teach him that the dentist is a person to be afraid of.
Before the adaptation visit to the dentist, let's inform the toddler where we are going and what will happen there. However, let's avoid phrases like "there's nothing to be afraid of" or "don't worry, it won't hurt." The effect will be the opposite and the child will become unnecessarily stressed. Even at home, we should try to build a child's positive attitude towards the dentist.
When taking your child to the dentist, it is also worth paying attention to the time of day. It is good when the child is rested. Therefore, it is better if the visit takes place after a day or night rest. A tired little patient is less willing to cooperate with the dentist, which makes the visit less pleasant for him.