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By Mayo Clinic staffBefore scheduling your child's first dental exam, consider whether you'd be most comfortable visiting your family dentist or taking your child to a pediatric dentist — a dentist who provides specialized dental and oral care to children, from infants to teens. Pediatric dentists typically have child-friendly offices and equipment specially designed for children.
To help prepare your child for a dental exam:
- Carefully time your child's visit. Schedule dental exams for your child at a time of day when he or she is well rested and most likely to be cooperative.
- Be positive. When talking to your child about his or her dental exam, avoid using words such as "pain" or "hurt." Instead, tell your child that the dentist will use special tools to make sure your child's teeth are healthy. Remind your child that you visit the dentist, too — but don't talk about any negative dental experiences you might have had.
- Listen to your child. Encourage your child to share any fears he or she might have about visiting the dentist or having a dental exam.
References
- Nowak AJ, et al. Preventive dental care and counseling for infants and young children. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Nov. 14, 2011.
- Child oral health. American Dental Hygienists' Association. http://www.adha.org/oralhealth/children.htm. Accessed Nov. 14, 2011.
- Oral health care for adolescents fact sheet. American Dental Hygienists' Association. http://www.adha.org/oralhealth/index.html. Accessed Nov. 14, 2011.
- Oral health care for children fact sheet. American Dental Hygienists' Association. http://www.adha.org/oralhealth/index.html. Accessed Nov. 14, 2011.
- X-rays. American Dental Association. http://www.ada.org/3067.aspx?currentTab=1. Accessed Nov. 14, 2011.
- Brooks SL. Guidelines for prescribing dental radiographs. In: White SC, et al. Oral Radiology: Principles and Interpretation. 6th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby Elsevier; 2009:244.
- Helpful hints for a healthy smile. American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. http://www.aapd.org/foundation/hints.asp. Accessed Nov. 14, 2011.
- Guideline on periodicity of examination, preventive dental services, anticipatory guidance/counseling, and oral treatment for infants, children, and adolescents. American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. http://www.aapd.org/media/Policies_Guidelines/G_Periodicity.pdf. Accessed Nov. 15, 2011.
- Oral health risk assessment timing and establishment of the dental home. Pediatrics. 2003;111:1113.
- Teething. American Dental Association. http://www.ada.org/3015.aspx?currentTab=1. Accessed Nov. 15, 2011.
- Fonseca RB, et al. Radiodensity evaluation of dental impression materials in comparison to tooth structures. Journal of Applied Oral Science. 2010;18:467.
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