Your Childs First Hygiene Appointment

When your child becomes three years of age, we recommend they have their first hygiene visit. This visit has two goals. First, to gently introduce your child to the dental experience and second, to begin in-office preventive procedures.
Our staff is highly trained and experienced in treating children and will make their initial visit comfortable, easy and even fun. Each new step is gently introduced and positively reinforced by our staff.

At this visit, we want to examine your child's teeth and gums, clean their teeth, apply topical fluoride and take appropriate x-rays. What is actually accomplished depends upon the ease in which your child adapts to this new experience.

The first visit can often be anxiety producing for a young child. Parents are expected to accompany their children. It helps to prepare them for the visit by following these simple steps:

• Let you child know the visits to the dentist are an important part of growing up because teeth are important!

• Give your child assurance and emotional support.

• Discuss dentistry in a pleasant way, children are very impressionable. The more calm and at ease you are so will they be. First visits to the dentist set the tone for a lifetime of dental experiences.

It is not unusual for children this age to be reluctant to cooperate initially and crying and refusal to sit in the dental chair is common. Please don't be surprised if this occurs. With your help my staff will "win" your child over. Children take great pride in overcoming their fears and leave feeling very good about themselves and what they have accomplished.