When it is time for your child to have their regular dental checkup, there are several things that you can do to prepare for the appointment with a Carlsbad pediatric dentist. As a parent, it is your responsibility to make sure that the appointment is scheduled, and if you are proactive about preparing your child for the appointment, then the child is more likely to have a positive experience.

One of the biggest mistakes that a parent can make is to not talk with their child about the dental appointment, and then simply bring the child to the appointment uneducated. Sometimes parents “trick” their child into going to the dentist, which might result in a tantrum in the office because the child didn’t know that they were going to a dental appointment. These situations can be stressful on both the parent and child, which is why it is best to be proactive about helping your child to prepare for the appointment.

Schedule the Appointment and Tell the Child

Often, dental appointments are scheduled weeks or even months in advance. Once you have done the research to find the Carlsbad pediatric dentist that you want your child to visit, then you should call the office and schedule an appointment. The moment the appointment is schedule is the best time to start talking with your child about the appointment.

Tell your child that the appointment is scheduled, and explain the importance of visiting the dentist on a regular basis. This situation provides a teaching opportunity for you to help your child understand more about dental health. Additionally, it is a good idea to use positive language as you speak about the dentist, because the words that you use can shape the child’s attitude about visiting the dentist. For example, here is a wrong way to tell your child about the appointment: “I scheduled a dental appointment for you. I know that it’s going to be a scary experience, but you have to go and sit still.” Instead, try a different approach, such as: “You have a dentist appointment coming up, isn’t that so cool? The dentist is going to count your teeth and see how clean your mouth is.”

Playing Dentist Games with Your Child

In addition to talking with your child about the appointment, it is also a good idea to plan fun activities that will help them to think about their teeth and mouth. These activities are especially impactful for young children. The activities can be simple and fun at the same time, and they offer a great way to help your child see that visiting the dentist shouldn’t be a scary experience.

Here are a few ideas that you can use with your child: Find fun books at the library that talk about going to the dentist. Play “dentist” and have the child look in your mouth and count your teeth. Print out coloring pages that have pictures of teeth, mouths, and dentists.

Call Carlsbad Children’s Dentistry to schedule an appointment for your child: (760) 633-1131