Preparation is key to a successful paediatric dental visit, and the more you understand what your child will experience in the office, the better equipped you’ll be to help him, or her get through it. Here’s what you should know to ensure that your child receives the care they need and leave with good feelings about dental visits.
You should fix an appointment as soon as you notice any problem with your child’s teeth or gums. Delaying treatment can lead to more costly procedures in the future, as well as continued discomfort for your child. If you are not sure what is causing a problem or how to deal with it, ask your dentist Vaucluse.
What are the symptoms of dental problems? Tooth pain is a significant reason for parents to take their child to a paediatric dentist. Although all children can develop teething troubles, symptoms of an untreated problem may include:
- Warm or hot food/formula seems to aggravate symptoms
- Changes in sleeping patterns
- New irritability during feeding
- Sticking out the tongue
- Frequent drooling
- Mottled teeth
- Foul-smelling breath
- Persistent gums that bleed quickly
- Receding upper lip
Other symptoms kids may experience during an examination are temperature changes, nausea and dizziness. The discomfort of being at the dentist’s office is not unusual for children who have never been there before. If your child seems uncomfortable, talk to the dentist or hygienist about ways to distract them.
How can I prepare my child for his first visit?
Some children feel apprehensive before visiting the paediatric dentist, so you must arm your child with knowledge ahead of time. You can help reduce anxiety by talking to your child beforehand and explaining what will happen during a dental exam. For example, let him know that you’ll be sitting in the waiting room while he goes into another room to meet with the dentist. If you have gone through any x-rays at an earlier date, bring them up during this discussion, too–this will give him something familiar to look at when he is asked to open his mouth for an exam. You may check out teeth whitening in Lancaster as they also offer pain-free tooth extractions and they will make sure that your child is as comfortable as possible.
On the appointment day, allow your child to pick what he should wear. Bring them along for comfort if it helps him feel more comfortable having his favourite teddy bear or blanket in the chair with him. Let him know that you’ll be present during the entire visit and stay right outside the door until he is finished.
The dentist will not allow children still getting their baby teeth to eat or drink before an exam because they are difficult to examine when there is food debris between them. So be prepared by having all snacks eaten beforehand so your child won’t be hungry during his appointment time. It’s also a good idea to limit drinks at least two hours before so as not to flush out food particles.
And remember that you are not alone in this. Every other child is experiencing the same thing at that time, including your own! Don’t hesitate to ask your dentist for help with anything else you feel might be helpful. As long as we know what we need to do, there is no reason why we can’t prepare and look forward to a happy and healthy future of visiting the dentist as every grown adult should.
