4 Questions To Ask When Making Your Child’s First Dental Appointment

Friday, June 26, 2015
4 Questions To Ask When Making Your Child’s First Dental Appointment

You want to give your child the best dental experience, be sure to ask these questions.

Are you excited for your child’s first dentist appointment? Some people are, but some parents come with a bit of hesitation. Do not fear! Penn Dental Family Practice is here to help you conquer the first appointment jitters, with our tips on your child’s first dentist appointment. Check out our Fact Sheet for lots of helpful tips.

Penn Dental Family Practice advises that you schedule your child’s first dentist appointment no later than age 3. With that said, there are studies that show that 1 in 4 kids will have cavities by the time they reach preschool. This statistic makes it clear that many people are not educated enough to bring a sense of awareness regarding their children’s oral health.

If a child is eating mostly formula/breastmilk or only healthy foods, they assume their child will not have any tooth or gum related issues. However, just because your child may not be eating candy or drinking juice does not ensure that they will not develop cavities over time, if not properly cared for.

When you are making your child’s first dentist appointment, be sure to ask:

  1. How early should I come in to fill out paperwork?
  2. What can I do to prepare my child?
  3. Which pediatric dentist would you recommend for my “3” year old?

  4. Do you take my dental insurance? (If applicable)

Here are 4 questions you can ask your child’s dentist, and possible answers they may give you, depending upon the needs of your child.

  1. How is the development of my child’s teeth and/or jaw? Jaw development is crucial in a child’s early years. From thumb and finger sucking to pacifiers, these cute habits can cause conditions in a child’s jaw and teeth development, long term. If you feel that your child’s teeth are coming in crooked or that their jaw seems swollen on a consistent basis.
  2. What can I do to keep my child’s teeth healthy and free from tooth decay? Teaching your child to brush at an early age is important. There are many child-friendly toothpastes and brushes, dependent upon your child’s age. Brush your child’s teeth 2-3 times a day, and teach your child to floss. Also, be sure to maintain regular visits to your dentist for your child.
  3. What happens when my child has a dental emergency? Every office is different. Some offices have doctors that can tend to your emergency no matter the day or the hour, while others have referring dentists for you to use specifically for emergencies.
  4. Will you keep me educated on how to take care of my child’s teeth at every stage? Your dentist will be more than happy to help educate you on how to take care of your child’s teeth at every stage in their life. From motivating your child to brush their teeth to encouraging them to care for their braces – your child’s dentist is there for you.

Contact Penn Dental Today

For more information on how Penn Dental Family Practice can help make your child’s first dentist appointment a memorable one, give us a call at one of our two locations. Still not sure where to find the best care for your child’s oral health? Be sure to check out our Comparison Chart to see how Penn Dental Family Practice stacks up against the competition.