Your First Trip to the Dentist
- Before bringing your child to us for their first visit, please prepare them for this new experience. Discuss the positive aspects of Dentisty with your child, while carfully avoiding any referenced to pain or needles as this will only increase your child’s apprehension towards dental care.
- The initial appointment will acquaint your child with our special office environment, however some little ones may still have a little anxiety. We have found that morning appointments often catch them while they are most refreshed and most accepting of new experiences.
- During a consultation with the Dentist you may address your questions and concerns. Also, please be candid in providing all information pertinent to your child’s dental, medical, and social situation. After the consultation a thorough examination, cleaning and fluoride treatment will be preformed.
- Occasionally we provide treatment alternatives for special children. In cases of extensive treatment needs and extreme mental or physical handicapping conditions treatment may be rendered under General Anesthesia in the Hospital, as Dr. Raab is a staff member at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children and the AtlantiCare Surgery Center.
Our Approach
Our focus is on making each child’s experience fun and informative starting with their very first visit. Our goal is to instill a positive approach to detail care now and future forward.
NEW PATIENT PACKET
Please download the Welcome Brochure and the Health History Form. Read over the Welcome Info and fill out the Health History Form. Please bring the form with you to your child’s first visit.
Fun & Heathly Tips for Kids and Parents
Whether your toddler has a mouth full of teeth or only a few poking through, it’s never too soon to start thinking about how to keep his adorable smile healthy. Sure, baby teeth don’t hang around forever (they generally start to fall out to make way for adult teeth by the time your child is 6 or 7), but it’s still important to keep those tiny teeth — and gums — in tip-top shape while they’re saving the spots for grown-up teeth.
When to go to the dentist
It might seem soon, but try to schedule your child’s first dental appointment at a pediatric dentist (or one who’s good with children) by the time he sprouts a tooth or turns 1, whichever comes first, according to the latest guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD). (The previous recommendation was between 1 and 2 years old or within six months of baby getting that first tooth.)
How to choose a dentist for your child
When it comes to choosing a dentist, many people take their tot to Mom and Dad’s — and this is often a good choice, particularly if your dentist has experience with young children. You may also want to consider taking your child to a pediatric dentist — someone who has additional training in caring for children’s oral health. Another bonus to choosing a pediatric dentist: She’ll be prepared to deal with any squirming or crying in the dental chair, and will have a waiting room filled with distractions such as kids’ books and toys.
Tips to make your child’s dentist visit easier
Before you assume that getting your toddler into the dentist’s chair will involve either a tantrum or bribery, remember that your child doesn’t harbor any ill will toward the dentist — yet. After all, he hasn’t had a close encounter with The Drill. For him, that first visit could be as much fun as a stop at the local amusement park (the chair goes up and down, back and forth!). So keep your own negative feelings in check (if you have any) and let your child enjoy his first dental visit with the same enthusiasm as a visit to Grandma’s (without the candy, of course).
Overcoming fear of the dentist
Some little ones have anxiety about medical and dental checkups, and their fears are completely understandable. Do your best to be patient with your little patient, and let him know you recognize how he feels. To help alleviate anxiety, here are a few tactics to try before and during the appointment:
Read up and role-play:
Read picture books about visiting the dentist, and encourage your toddler to play “dentist” with a stuffed animal or doll — opening wide, looking inside and giving teeth a polish.
Use positive language:
Explain to your sweetie that a dentist is a doctor who helps build healthy, strong teeth, but avoid getting into much technical detail about the visit, which may confuse more than it clears up.
Come prepared:
Bring along comfort toys and distractions for the waiting room and the dentist’s chair.
Plan a treat:
Something as simple as a trip to the playground after the dentist can help your toddler stay focused on the positive.
Stay relaxed:
Your own stress or anxiety about the dentist may be more noticeable than you think, especially for a perceptive and sensitive toddler. If you’re cheerful and calm, you set the tone for your child to be, too.
Be a good cheerleader:
Congratulate your kiddo whenever you can (“Good job opening wide!”), and try to be supportive, not critical, if your child has a hard time cooperating. And remember: Even if he kicks and screams the whole time, it’s nothing an experienced pediatric dentist hasn’t seen before.
How often to visit the dentist
Based on how your toddler’s teeth look, your dentist will let you know when to make the next visit. Most experts recommend that toddlers see the dentist about every six months — as long as there are no major problems. So don’t forget to schedule your child’s second appointment on your way out the door!
Source:
Your Child's First Dentist Appointment, Marygrace Taylor. What to Expect The Second Year, Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel.
WhatToExpect.com, Toddler Dental Care, March 2019.
American Academy of Pediatrics, Baby's First Tooth: 7 Facts Parents Should Know, August 2016.
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Frequently Asked Questions, 2019.