Dental checkups needed by children
Children need periodic dental check-ups as prevention to detect possible decay or cavities. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends making the first visit to the dentist by the first birthday. After the first review, the controls should be performed, if everything goes well, every 6-12 months, as recommended by the pediatric dentist.
Children with healthy teeth chew food without difficulty and learn to speak clearly, and also smile with confidence.
In Spain, the most common is that until three years is the pediatrician who controls the eruption of the temporary dentition and if you see any sign of alarm recommend parents go to the pediatric dentist.
The first dental check-up of babies and children
The specialist will start with a medical and dental history of the child and will make a review of teeth and gums, see if there are bottle cavities, potential problems or growth alterations (shape of the jaws) will be evaluated.
It is also the time to instruct parents on the hygiene habits for their baby, the control in the ingestion of sugars and the administration of fluoride.
In the following reviews, the pediatric dentist will control the tooth eruption, if decay or some growth problem has appeared (in this case, he will refer you to the orthodontist). Remember the hygiene techniques and recommended dietary habits to have a healthy mouth.
Advice for the child's first dental visit
Here are some tips to make your child's first dental visit a success:
- Choose a dentist, prepared and accustomed to caring for children. In a clinic with a suitable environment and a comfortable waiting room prepared for children (with toys ...) your child will be entertained during the wait and not scared thinking about what will happen.
- Prepare the child for the first visit. Explain what the dentist does. Put him in front of the mirror and make him look at his teeth and mouth. You can play with him by telling him that you are the dentist and he is the patient and vice versa. You can also put a video of your favorite cartoon that visits the dentist: Caillou, Dora Explorer, Peppa Pig ...
- Go with the child to consultation. We in the consultation let the parents pass on the first visit until the child gains confidence to enter him only in the cabinet. So both, the parents and the child start without fear and informed of everything that is done in the consultation. Although afterwards the parents should not go to the dental chair area, in this way the dentist can establish a direct relationship with the child without the mediation of the parents, which will facilitate the child's answers in the dental office.
- Get an appointment early (if possible in the morning or early afternoon), you will prevent your child from seeing scenes of panic from another child, if they happen to happen. In addition, a rested child always reacts in a better way.
- Do not threaten your son telling him that if he presents a bad behavior you will take him to the dentist, he would relate it to a punishment.
- Do not express your own fears in front of him... If mom or dad is afraid of going to the dentist, what is waiting for me? your son will think.
Remember that the best way to learn is by imitation ... Go to your regular visits happy and confident, you can ask your son to accompany you and so you will see and learn by your example!
Sara Hawkins Solís. Lda. Dentistry UCM. Master in Orthodontics UCM. Prof. Collaborator Master of Orthodontics UCM
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