A trip to the dentist’s office can be intimidating and even frightening for people of all ages, but this is especially so when it comes to child patients. At Porter, Singley, and Crane Family Dentistry, we strive to provide a warm, family-friendly atmosphere and want to share some tips on how you can help your child be more comfortable with their dental visit.
How to Make Your Child Okay at the Dentist
While our staff and atmosphere will go a long way to making your child more at ease, there are a few things that you can do that can alleviate, eliminate, or even prevent their fears.
- Start Young – The earlier that your child visits the dentist, the better. These early visits are very important, often laying the foundation for a lifetime of good oral habits and a healthy smile and helping to establish the visits as routine and nothing to fear.
- Stay Positive & Keep it Simple – When discussing a forthcoming dental visit, keep a positive attitude and try not to include too many details as doing so will generally raise more questions. Adding information regarding an extra treatment such as a filling that may or may not be needed can cause unnecessary anxiety.
- Again — Stay Positive – Avoid words such as “shot,” “pain,” and “hurt.” These words are certain to trigger anxiety in children and our staff will utilize a vocabulary that helps children get through those difficult situations.
- Keep Yourself Calm – When your child is crying, whining, or attempting to get away from the exam, it can result in your own stress levels going up. Which of course the child immediately picks up on. Remember that our staff is used to working with children and have seen our share of tantrums. We’ll keep them safe and offer guidance on how you can assist us.
When is it Time to Bring Your Child to the Dentist?
Our office recommends that your child has their first dental visit by the age of 3, when most or all of their primary teeth have erupted. Between the ages of 6 and 12, when baby teeth give way to their permanent teeth, prevention is the name of the game. Cavity prevention and orthodontic evaluation are important factors that should be reviewed and regular checkups are critical.
If your child is above the age of three and hasn’t had their first dental exam, or they haven’t seen the dentist in quite some time, you should contact us for an appointment today.
Why You Should Contact PSC Dental
When it comes to children’s dentistry, Porter, Singley, and Crane Family Dentistry welcomes young patients and provides a warm, welcoming, and family-friendly atmosphere. Our staff makes every effort to ensure that all patients, but especially children visiting for the first time, feel comfortable and are educated about the dental treatment they will be receiving.
Whether it’s their first visit or their first visit in a while, when you’re in or around Columbus, MS, you need to contact PSC for all your dental needs. Because at Porter, Singley, & Crane, your first visit establishes a vital foundation for our relationship with you.