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Article Taking your child to the dentist for the first time

By Frank Farrelly
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It is just as important for children to have their teeth checked by a dentist as it is for adults.

Early detection of problems with tooth decay or crowding can lead to less dental treatment over their lifetime and early positive experiences mean that the child does not grow up with any fear of the dentist.

For most children, the experience is easy and no problems are found, but this can still lead to positive reinforcement of their cleaning and sugar intake.

When should I bring my child to the dentist for the first time?

There is no definitive answer for this as it varies from child-to-child. We want the first experience to be positive, and earlier is better. Saying that, every child is different and it depends on their comfort with strange people and a strange environment. Only you will know when is right for them. They can come as early as two years old for a routine examination, but they should certainly be coming by six years old. At six, their adult teeth come through (erupt), so any problems with the baby teeth need to be identified prior to start of the adult teeth eruption, to prevent spread of tooth decay or other dental diseases to their permanent teeth. Those that come regularly as children are also more likely to continue that habit as and adult leading to better dental health throughout their life.

At any age though, if you see something that concerns you, you can bring the child in to just check this problem. We never want a child’s first visit to be an emergency visit as there is an increased risk they have a negative experience, possibly leading to less compliance later on. Unfortunately, this is not always possible to avoid as they may have a fall or other accident and need to attend their first dental appointment at a stressful time. Should this happen, it is important to start following up with routine visits soon afterwards to desensitise them to this bad experience as they grow up. That way the bad association with a dentist fades and positive experiences are outweighed. It is for this very reason they usually get a reward, usually a stickers, at the dentist. This reinforcement of a positive experience at the end is very helpful to getting them on board with their dental care.

What will happen at a child dental check up?

A child’s dental check up is similar to an adult dental check up. We check all their soft tissues for any problems and then carefully check each tooth for problems. Their development is assessed to ensure that their dentition is within the normal range for their age. The crowding and alignment of their teeth is checked to see if there is any need for orthodontic treatment, or if future orthodontic treatment will be needed. After this their teeth are cleaned and usually a fluoride treatment is applied to their teeth to help prevent tooth decay in the future. Your dentist will discuss if dental x-rays are appropriate.

This is all dependent on their compliance, which can vary due to age. If they are not comfortable, the appointment is stopped early, even if this means their teeth are just checked, rather than cleaned also. Their long term dental health is more important than any individual visit. Again depending on their age, the whole process can be made into a game. For young children, rather than checking their teeth for problems, we tell them we are counting their teeth. Rather than sitting in a dentist chair, they have a ride in the magic chair. The kids can then be excited about their appointment, learn about their teeth (how many) and hopefully stay involved as they get older.

How can I prepare my child for their first dentist visit?

First and foremost, children have no past experience or hang-ups about the dentist. They have no reason to fear dental treatment. The only reason they will have fear of a dentist is if someone has told them that they should fear the dentist. Therefore, it is important not to even joke about the dentist being bad or painful. When they are old enough to have formed their own opinion about the dentist, they can share the joke, but they will not personally fear the dentist, or even worse have a dental phobia. Only talk about the positive side of treatment. Instead of having a filling, talk about fixing their hole. Instead of scraping the plaque, it is polishing their teeth to make them sparkle.

It is important to discuss the visit in advance so they know what to expect. Language suggesting a reason to be afraid should be avoided. A practice run at home, lying on their bed with a flashlight to “count their teeth” can help. Many children’s TV programs also have visits about going to the dentist and/or doctor and these can be helpful also. Rewards help also, so usually at the end of their visit, they will get a sticker, toy or colouring book as a prize. It is fine to let them know this in advance. Rather than saying it is due to the process of dental treatment, it can be just a reward for good behaviour and being brave to try a new thing.

Certainly seeing someone else at the dentist helps to demystify the process. If they have older siblings, they can watch as they have their check up or dental treatment. Another option is to bring them in to watch on your dental visit. You should only do this if you, yourself, do not have a dental phobia. Sometimes, despite all preparation, children just react badly to a new experience. If this is the case, the appointment can be abandoned for now and reattempted a little later. Sometimes months later, if they are not yet old enough or mature enough, sometime hours or days later, if it was just a case of bad timing!

How many teeth should my child get and when do they come through?

Usually the first teeth come through at 6 months old, continuing up to about two and half years old. In total there are 20 deciduous teeth. These are also known as milk teeth or baby teeth or collectively as the primary dentition. From about 6 years old, the first molars will come through at the back, behind the baby teeth. Then the primary dentition is progressively lost, tooth-by-tooth. Eventually by about 12 years old, they will have a full set of permanent teeth, totalling 28 teeth. This does not include the wisdom teeth, which do not start to erupt until 18 to 21 years old.

There is variation between people. It is not unusual to be up to 12 months old before the first teeth come through, and they can even be present from birth. It is more important that they come in the correct order to prevent crowding, than the timing. For the first permanent teeth, it can be from as early as five or as late as seven for the first eruption.

Does Medicare pay for children’s dental treatment?

In certain circumstances Medicare Australia pay for children’s dental treatment. This is through a scheme known as the Child Dental Benefits Scheme. More information is available from the Department of Human Services. The government has flagged this scheme as possibly ending, so you should check availability before you make an appointment. Many dentists bulk bill for this scheme.

Have you taken your kids to a dentist yet? What was their experience like? Please share in the comments below.

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Comments

  • my kids go to a kiddies one, they have video games, dress up days etc. you get a gift bag too and its all free from medicare

    Reply

  • I am just about to take my 2.5 year old although now they’re discontinuing the dental benefits scheme :(

    • It is still reported as active by medicare, so if you are eligible, it is funded. However, this may change once the new government is elected as they are reallocating funding into the public system.

    Reply

  • Thanks for the great and informative article.

    • You are very welcome. Glad it was helpful.

    Reply

  • A great article, very informative, thanks so much.

    Reply

  • thanks for the tips…taking my girls to dentist for first time and its good to know

    • You are very welcome. Hope it all goes well for them. The more exciting and fun it is for them, the more likely they return regularly as an adult.

    Reply

  • What a great read and some great tips for me and also reminded me to book the kids in again

    Reply

  • Thanks for this article, it has prompted me into looking at taking our kids to the dentist again.

    Reply

  • I took all my kids to the dentist since they were about 1 year old and always made sure we had professional and kids loving dentists.

    Reply

  • Ask around your friends and make sure you take your child to a dentist who is great with children for the first few times. This can have a long lasting benefit on your child.

    Reply

  • We were new to Australia and horrified that children had to pay for dental services.. however over a decade later we heard (quite by chance) of the “school dentist” where children are seen either for free (with right health card scheme) or for a fixed $30 fee covering all procedures. I think the “school dentist” ought to be publicized more widely. Immigrants from non-English speaking backgrounds are going to have an even harder time finding out about it. Information should be given at birth to parents or upon arrival in the country. Dentists need to do more to promote the Australian school dental service.

    Reply

  • My eldest didnt get her first tooth until she was just over a year old.

    All three of my kids never worried about going to the dentist.

    Reply

  • I had no problems taking my kids to the dentist. They went regularly and still, as adults, have regular visits

    Reply

  • My son’s 18 months although i’m not sure he would sit or lay in a chair at this age lol

    • At 18 months he doesn’t really need routine checks, unless you see something that concerns you. Next time you go, bring him along so he becomes familiar with the surroundings and concept.

    Reply

  • I’m going to be taking my daughter to the dentist for the first time in a few months. I have been practicing with a torch, and out some glasses on her too

    • That’s great. I hope you both had fun, so her initial dental experiences are all positive.

    Reply

  • I have to take my daughter to the dentist for the first time in the next few months and am not looking forward to it at all! :-(

    • Hi Shelley,
      If you are not nervous, taking your daughter to see you at the dentist can help demystify the process. Starting to play now, with counting teeth, using a torch lying down on bed can be a gentle introduction. If you are nervous about her visit, make sure to hide it from her.

      It’s worth noting that the government is considering ending the Child Dental Benefit Scheme, so if you are eligible, you could possibly be bulk billed for her check up. There is more information on our website about checking availability. http://darlinghurstdental.com.au/medicare-child-dental-benefits-scheme-cdbs/
      Hope all goes better than you expect! I’m sure it will.

    Reply

  • MY daughter loved going to the dentist! We were shocked!!!

    • Children have no reason to think going to the dentist will not be fun. If they are engaged and treatnment is carried out around their capabilities and understanding, then it can be fun. Bringing them early is important for this reason.

    Reply
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