When it comes to dental visits, getting your kids to go is like pulling the proverbial teeth. If your kids don't like going to the dentist, they're going to fight you every step of the way. Unfortunately, if all their experiences with the dentist involve pain or discomfort, they're going to have a hard time enjoying those visits. Here are a few simple steps you can take to make sure your kids don't equate every dental visit with pain .
Get That First Appointment Scheduled Early
If you're trying to get your kids to enjoy their dental visits, or at least not loathe them, you've got to start early. The best way to do that is to schedule their first dental appointments while they're still young; preferably by their first birthday. Those early visits will help your child develop a comfortable relationship with their dentist.
Schedule a Get-to-Know-You Visit With Each New Dentist
It's not always possible to keep the same dentist all the way through childhood. Whether you move, your dentist moves, or your insurance changes, there may be times when changing dentists becomes necessary. If you need to change your kids' dentist, make sure you schedule a get-to-know-you visit. Those get-to-know-you visits will ensure that your kids don't automatically relate their new dentist to painful dental procedures. They'll also ensure that your kids will feel comfortable with their new dentist should the need for dental work arise.
Don't Forget About Those Semi-Annual Visits
If you've been forgetting about those semi-annual dental visits, you need to get back to scheduling them. You might not think that your kids need them since they always have a clean bill of dental health, but those semi-annual visits actually help prevent dental problems. To ensure that your kids continue with a clean bill of dental health, and to ensure that they don't start equating dental visits with painful procedures, be sure to take them in for their checkups twice a year.
Schedule Exams at the First Hint of a Problem
It's not always easy to tell when your kids are experiencing dental problems. It's even more difficult to identify them if your kids are masking the problem to avoid a trip to the dentist. Unfortunately, delaying a trip to the dentist may actually lead to the need for painful dental work. As soon as you suspect that your kids are experiencing dental problems, you should schedule an appointment with the dentist. It's less painful to fill a cavity than it is to sit through a root canal.
Contact a dental office like Parklane Dental for additional advice.
