Despite the fact that your child will start to see the dentist regularly around their first birthday, their first dental cleaning will likely happen a little later, once most of their baby teeth have emerged.
This is why the initial cleaning is usually performed during their toddler years, when your kid is between the ages of 12 and 36 months. During this period, your child's dentist will be able to detect and eliminate plaque and tartar buildup before they develop into a serious issue.
Preparing Your Child for Their First Dental Cleaning
We recommend spending some time discussing what will take place during the first cleaning before the visit happens. Talk to your child about the importance of healthy teeth and explain what the dentist will do in language they can easily understand considering their age and stage of development.
Keeping it basic may work best. Giving too many details may cause your young one to get concerned. Most of the time, we recommend parents say something like this:
"The dentist is going to look in your mouth, count your teeth, and make sure they are strong and healthy. The dentist's name is Dr. Margulius. They are really nice!"
Is your child already worried about going to the dentist? Try to avoid using unpleasant phrases or words around him or her. However, even if you use softer language to describe the discomfort, such as terms like "only a little" or "not too bad", words such as needle, pinch and shot are likely to get stuck in your child's mind.
If dentist appointments are a source of anxiety for you, try not to express your feelings to your child during the session. They look to you for direction when responding to new experiences. If you appear to be concerned, they will be as well.
During the Appointment
We encourage you to speak with us in advance and tell us a little about your child's personality. Do they have a tendency to be afraid or rebellious when confronted with unknown situations? Does your child have any attachment or developmental concerns that we should be aware of and address during the appointment?
The more information we have, the more we will be able to cater to your child's individual requirements and ensure that they receive the care that they require.
At the beginning of the session, we will inspect your child's teeth, jaws, gums, and bite to ensure that they are in good health.
In addition, we will use specialized devices to remove plaque and tartar from the teeth, exactly like we do with adult patients.
We will present recommendations for correct brushing and flossing techniques. Whether your child washes and flosses his own teeth or you still do it for them, it never hurts to get a refresher course on the subject.
Please feel free to ask any questions you may have concerning your child's oral health or any impending dental treatments during the visit.
Following the completion of the exam and cleaning, we will schedule any required follow-up visits. Also, if you like, we may schedule the next cleaning and checkup session sooner if necessary.