{"id":19525,"date":"2022-02-22T09:52:36","date_gmt":"2022-02-22T14:52:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thepapergown.zocdoc.com\/?p=19525"},"modified":"2026-02-05T07:02:56","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T12:02:56","slug":"how-to-prepare-your-child-for-a-trip-to-the-dentist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/how-to-prepare-your-child-for-a-trip-to-the-dentist\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Prepare Your Child For a Trip to the Dentist"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dental appointments can be nerve-wracking for adults, so it makes sense that sitting in the dentist\u2019s chair can cause anxiety in kids. Going to an unfamiliar place and meeting new people can feel scary \u2014 plus, there\u2019s all those strange noises \u2014 and your child might be worried something will hurt.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Luckily, a bit of planning can make <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/manage-dental-anxiety-kids\/\">dental appointments<\/a> easier for both you and your child. Here are 7 simple ways to prepare for your kids\u2019 next dental visit, according to a pediatric dentist.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Start early<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aapd.org\/assets\/1\/7\/DentalHomeNeverTooEarly.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> recommends parents take their kids for their first dental visit by age one, or within six months of getting their first tooth. It might not seem important to see a dentist when your child barely has any teeth, but those early appointments provide important exposure for your kid and education for you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIf a child has been coming to see us since age one, they might be ready to sit in the dental chair by themselves when they\u2019re two or three,\u201d says <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/dental.washington.edu\/people\/audrey-mikkelson\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Audrey Mikkelson<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a dentist and clinical instructor of pediatric dentistry at the University of Washington School of Dentistry.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Early dental appointments are also an educational opportunity for you \u2014 Mikkelson says your child\u2019s dentist can fill you in on how to brush an infant or toddler\u2019s teeth, when to start using toothpaste, and how to keep your child\u2019s mouth and teeth healthy in general. Plus, if your child has a mouth or dental injury, or you have questions, you\u2019ll have a place to call!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Talk about it<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Normalizing dental visits can make your child <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/manage-dental-anxiety-kids\/\">less nervous<\/a> about appointments. Do your best to tell your child about their upcoming appointments in advance, so you have time to talk about what to expect.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Children\u2019s books and TV shows about dentist appointments can provide talking points about what to expect. Mikkelson says your dentist might also have a video on their website introducing the staff and the office, which can help familiarize your child with the environment before going.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Emphasize the importance of healthy teeth<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Understanding <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">why <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">we go to the dentist can be motivating, too. Mikkelson encourages involving your kids in your tooth-brushing and flossing routine \u2014\u00a0make it a family occasion! \u2014 and regularly talking about the importance of healthy teeth. Telling your child when you\u2019re going to the dentist can also set a positive example. When it\u2019s time to go to an appointment, remind your child the dentist is going to brush and floss their teeth just like you do at home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Make booking easy<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scrambling to find a dentist when you need one adds unnecessary stress to the whole experience, so do your best to make booking as easy as possible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mikkelson recommends finding a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/dentists?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc_brand&amp;utm_campaign=10272222869&amp;utm_term=zocdoc%20dentist%20appointment&amp;utm_content=104191868284&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiAsNKQBhAPEiwAB-I5zaXWYzdB8GdEo1UX88lR3ne-nXUSCBImLx53nvRXuobPLfUcBprFYRoC354QAvD_BwE\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cdental home\u201d<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for your child early on, so you have an established relationship when you need care. You may prefer a pediatric dentist, who has extra education in treating young children. If you already see a family dentist, you can also ask if they treat children your kid\u2019s age.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Either way, once you choose a dentist, you should be able <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/dentists?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc_brand&amp;utm_campaign=10272222869&amp;utm_term=zocdoc%20dentist%20appointment&amp;utm_content=104191868284&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiAsNKQBhAPEiwAB-I5zaXWYzdB8GdEo1UX88lR3ne-nXUSCBImLx53nvRXuobPLfUcBprFYRoC354QAvD_BwE\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to schedule<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> ongoing appointments after each visit \u2014\u00a0which takes scrambling out of the equation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Use positive reinforcement<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ve probably used positive reinforcement at home \u2014\u00a0offering praise or prizes for doing chores or other good behavior. The same approach can work with dentist appointments, Mikkelson says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try specifically praising your child for something they did well before or during the appointment to build their confidence. Many pediatric dental offices give kids a new toothbrush and a small prize after an appointment, and you can try the same thing. For example, planning a special activity or giving your child a sticker post-dentist might make them more excited for their next appointment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep the incentives simple \u2014\u00a0just enough to make the experience fun. \u201cTo kids, a huge prize after an appointment makes going to the dentist seem like a really big deal, which might make them more nervous,\u201d says Mikkelson.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Give your kids some control<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New environments can feel overwhelming if you don\u2019t know what to expect, so Mikkelson suggests offering a nervous child choices to reduce anxiety. Many dentists do this already, allowing kids to pick their own toothpaste flavor or the show they watch during a cleaning or dental procedure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can give your child a sense of control, too: For example, let them choose their own outfit or pick the music en route to the appointment. You can also allow your child to pick whether you sit next to them in the appointment or in the waiting room.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Bring their favorite toy or stuffed animal<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many pediatric dental offices, Mikkelson says, have books, toys, and activities in the waiting area. But it may help your child to bring a stuffed animal or toy of their own. For one thing, Mikkelson says, a toy from home can provide some security in a potentially scary environment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A stuffed animal or doll is also a great way to ease into a cleaning or other dental work. \u201cIf a kid is feeling nervous, they love it if we do a little demonstration on their stuffed animal first,\u201d Mikkelson says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Screens, on the other hand, aren\u2019t always helpful. An iPad might keep them calm in the waiting room, but Mikkelson says distraction isn\u2019t so useful in the long term.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe want to teach them how to build relationships at the dental office and be engaged during appointments,\u201d she says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h1 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Ready to book a dentist\u2019s appointment? Visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/dentists?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc_brand&amp;utm_campaign=10272222872&amp;utm_term=%2Bzocdoc%20%2Bdentist&amp;utm_content=104191869084&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiAsNKQBhAPEiwAB-I5zU6JJeMrMJ5I6JvcwEKyHlOF4KKQzdmfhsGDDI-pc2vUXeMX_4z9NxoCWRsQAvD_BwE\"><span class=\"s2\">Zocdoc.<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h1>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There are a few things you can do to make your visit as stress-free as possible. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":19283,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[227],"tags":[12,103,97,201],"class_list":["post-19525","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guides","tag-anxiety","tag-prep","tag-dental-care","tag-pediatric-care","reviewer-dr-nassim-assefi","specialist_by_city-dentists"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.5 - 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