Tips for Parents

When beginning dental visits for your children, here's a few ideas to consider:

The Do's

• Make dental visits fun for your child.  Give them the great reasons why people go to the dentist. 
• Make the dentist an adventure for your child.
• Be prepared to let your child go into treatment room alone.
• Bring a comfort item just in case.  A special teddy or blanket that child loves.
• Keeping your positive attitude and example will be very important.  Your child reads your feelings also, therefore remain confident and calm. 
• Suggest a few of the rewards that most dentists have at the end of the visit.  The goodie bag!!  Here at our office we give toothbrushes, sparkle toothpaste and little prizes. The kids love it and remember a great time at our office.

The Don'ts

• Don't threaten, punish or bribe your child to go to the dentist.  This could create a negative attitude about dental visits in the future.
• Don't let your child see your own dental anxiety about your own visits.
• Don't allow others to frighten your child with their own dental stories. 

The key is knowledge.  Let your child know the lifelong benefit of seeing a dentist.  Besure to tell your child, "Great Job!" after their dental visit.  Let your child know how proud you are of them for taking great care of themselves and their teeth.