How To Introduce A Very Young Child To The Dentist?

It is very important that a child sees a dentist at a young age. According to the AAPD, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the first examination is recommended at the time of eruption of the first tooth and no later than 12 months of age. There is a possibility that this first examination can be with the baby accompanying the parents dental treatment and a just a quick look in the child's mouth can take place. This would help the child to get a calm feeling of going to the dentist and lessen dental anxiety as the child ages.


It would even be useful to buy a small dental mirror so that you can explain dentistry at home.  Of course, this dental appointment for a young child does not always take place and child behavior guidance has to take place. Infants and some young children may feel more confident when parents stay close during treatment. But, with older children, doctor-child communication is often enhanced if the parents remain in the reception room.

 The NCBI, National Center of Biological Information reported on a study done at the Pediatric Dentistry Department of the University of Florida. The purpose of the study was to get the first year dental students' acceptability scores of pediatric dental behavior guidance techniques used in the dental office. The highest scores the first year dental students gave were for positive reinforcement for the child, use of nitrous oxide, stimulating the child's imagination, tell-show-do, distraction, use of euphemisms, voice control, and promising a toy to the child. The lowest scores the first year dental students gave were for showing the child a needle, dental treatment without local anesthetic, parent talking with the child during treatment, hand over mouth, dentist/assistant being quiet, and not allowing the child to speak.

According to the NCBI, at the end of the four-year dental curriculum statistically significant decreases in children accepting dentistry were found when mentioning the possibility of pain during the treatment and with a parent being in the dental clinic or talking with the child during dental treatment.

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