Your kids’ dentist experience is an important one and the first one can set the precedent for the rest of their dentist visits for their life! Dentists who are not just specially trained to handle children but truly know how to implement their training and far and few between, so it is important to find the one and keep them close. Find a dentist that bonds with your young child and keeps them feeling comfortable every single time they come back to their office.

Ways to find a great pediatric dentist:

  • Find a pediatric dentist! Anecdotal information is vital for a truly fantastic pediatric dentist. It is important to have friends and family who have had young kids visit a dentist, give their opinion about their experiences and what they’ve learned. American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s dentist search is a very effective tool as well, this can help you find professionals in the area you live in.
  • Make a list! You don’t have to stick to one pediatric dentist just because a close friend or family member loved them. Make a list and set up a consultation with different pediatric dentists, this helps you gather information about each practice and make the best decision for your child.
  • The atmosphere is important! This is an area that should cater to your child. If you walk in and something doesn’t feel right, trust that, and move on. You can ask about the tools the office uses and make sure they are all sizeable for little mouths. Don’t ever feel shy about checking out the staff either, if you can’t approach them either will your child and that is unacceptable.
  • Finally! Once you have gathered as much information as you possibly can from the internet, interactions with different dentists, and have truly taken into account other people’s first handle experiences, it is time to make your decision.

Your child’s first dental experience is extremely important and shouldn’t be taken lightly. They should feel at ease with the doctor and the atmosphere. There are steps that you can take to ensure your child acclimates well to strangers but the professionals in the practice should be well trained in situations to help the child along.