The first thing to figure out is when you should take your child in for their first dental visit. Contrary to what some individuals may think, your kid doesn’t need a full set of teeth to go visit a pediatric dentist. Instead, it is recommended that your child be taken to the dentist six months after their first tooth erupts—or by the time your child is 12 months old, whichever comes first.
This first visit serves a number of purposes. Not only can you start to acclimate your child to regular dental services and have our dentist look over your child’s dental development, but you can also receive helpful information on things like teething, developing teeth issues, etc.
Find An Inviting, Well-Reviewed Dentist
One of the first steps to bringing your child in for their first dentist visit is to find the right dentist to ensure that your kid’s first experience is as positive as possible. Working with an inviting dentist can help set the tone for how future dentist visits go for you and your child.
To find a dentist that is inviting, experienced, and compassionate can take some work. Along with asking for recommendations from family and friends, you can also check Google reviews. A well-reviewed dentist with more than 50 positive reviews is doing something right, and you can get a good idea of how people feel about their experience with the dentist they are reviewing.
Our dentist here at Taylor General & Cosmetic Dentist is an experienced cosmetic dentist. However, thanks to his time spent working with the Give Kids a Smile program, Dr. Taylor has worked with many children, helping put them at ease.
He is also a father of four who does his own children’s dental work, which helps Dr. Taylor empathize with parents who bring their children in for dental care. So, if you are looking for a skilled, well-respected dentist for your child in Billings, MT, Dr. Taylor is here to help.
Ways To Prepare Your Child For Their First Dental Visit
Since your child will be around 12 months old when you bring them in for their first dental visit, there isn’t much you can tell them about the visit. But, what your attitude is around the upcoming appointment will help set the tone for your child. So, some of the ways you can prepare your child for their visit are:
- Book an early appointment, avoiding appointments around nap times
- Brush your child’s teeth and gums
- Have your child pick out a few toys to play with while in the waiting room
- Talk to your child about the dentist, what dentists do, and get them excited to meet their dentist
How To Prep As A Parent For Your Kid’s Appointment
Your emotional preparation is probably one of the most important factors when it comes to making your child’s first visit to the dentist a good one. The more you stay positive, the easier it will be for your child to stay calm, even while undergoing the new experience of visiting the dentist for the first time.
To help ensure you are prepared for your kid’s first dental appointment, you can do these things:
- Print out the patient information form at home and fill them out. That way, you don’t have to try to juggle form filling and your child while in the waiting room.
- Get to your child’s appointment 10-15 minutes early so that you don’t have to rush.
- Bring any questions or concerns with you. Write them down on your smartphone or on paper so that you don’t forget anything you wanted to cover with our dentist.
Visit Your Family Dentist In Billing, MT
If you are looking for a dentist for the whole family in Billings, MT, then come visit our dental clinic! We work with dental patients of all ages, offering both general dental services and cosmetic dentistry services.
To set up your child’s first visit to our dentist, feel free to contact us today to make an appointment! We are happy to help you and your child have the best dental visit possible!
