Infants and Young Children

In order to maintain the oral health of your child, we recommend you take him or her for regular visits to the dentist.

Techniques used to help children through their early visits

Tell, show, do - Using simple words, we will explain to your child what we are going to do (demonstrating on a doll or other person if necessary) before doing it.

Voice control - Use of a friendly voice which can become more firm if necessary.

Positive reinforcement - Our dentists will praise or compliment your child for good behavior.

Distraction - Our dentist may use stories and conversation to distract your child.

Nonverbal communication - Body language can be used to reinforce positive behavior and help discourage negative behavior. This may be as simple as a smile or frown on the dentist's face.

Sedation techniques - We may sedate your child in order to help him or her relax and be comfortable in the dental setting. This may be necessary for more complicated treatments and allows work to be performed safely.

 

At Genesis Dental Care, we understand that every child has a unique personality and way of expressing emotions and fears. Some children cry when they're afraid whilst others become combative and throw temper tantrums. Our highly trained dentists use many techniques to get children to cooperate - see the sidebar on the right side of the page.

When should my child first visit the dentist?

We recommend you first visit the dentist with your child about six months after his / her first teeth come through around the time of their first birthday. We will carefully examine the development of your child's teeth and mouth and monitor any potential problems such as baby bottle tooth decay, teething irritations, gum disease, and prolonged thumb-sucking. Any special preventive care can be recommended if required.

How you can help prepare for the first visit

It's very important that your child's first visit to the dentist be a positive experience - also remember that if you are anxious then this is likely to rub off on your child!

We recommend that you tell your child about the visit in advance, but don't go into detail and of course don't tell them that it may be uncomfortable or recount any unpleasant experiences you may have previously had. It is important to stress to your child the positive effects of a visit to the dentist, the importance of maintaining healthy teeth and gums and that the dentist's job is to help you achieve this. Please also bring your child's medical records if possible.

What happens on the first visit?

The first visit is sometimes no more than an introduction to your dentist, with no actual dental work being done. We will try and make the visits fun, by giving your them rides in the chair, counting their teeth and demonstrating the right way to brush. Sometimes your child may be frightened or uncomfortable and patience and calm is very important. In our experience, short successive visits are good at building your child's trust in the dentist.