Child’s first date
Is your child ready for their first visit?
The first dental appointment for a child depends a lot on each child. Unless there is a dental problem (pain, apparent decay, abundant tartar, broken tooth, etc.), the first appointment for an examination/cleaning should generally be around the age of 2-3 years.
During this first visit, the dentist and the dental hygienist will make sure to establish a bond of trust with him.
If possible, schedule an appointment when young children are fit and in a good mood, ideally in the morning.
Prepare a preschool or school-aged child by giving them a general idea of what to expect. Explain to him why it is so important to go to the dentist, and stimulate his enthusiasm and curiosity. To reassure him, it is important to start by explaining to him what awaits him without giving too many details that may scare him.
The first visit serves primarily to prevent early childhood caries, which can be caused by both breastfeeding and bottle-feeding. The dentist will take advantage of the meeting, among other things, to advise the parents on the child’s diet and oral hygiene.
He will also find out about the child’s oral habits, for example, does he suck his thumb? If this is the case, the risks of malocclusion (poor position of the teeth causing poor interlocking of the two jaws) will be explained to you.
