Children's National Dental Health Month is dedicated to promoting a lifetime of great dental health for your child. During the month of February, it is my hope that you will benefit from the "tips" in this newsletter regarding important dental topics for your child, which are all guidelines provided to parents, children and dentists by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry,  (www.aapd.org) including: 

*Toothbrushing/Flossing* - *Nutrition *  -  *Dental Visits* - *Thumb/Finger/Pacifier Habits*  and *What to Do if your Child Injures a Tooth*

I hope you had a great and happy Valentine’s Day and that our Nutrition discussion from last week assisted in making good Valentine’s Day “treat” choices for your children.  This week our discussion is about Visiting the Dentist.  

Children’s dental visits can bring up an array of questions for many parents.   We all want every child to have the best visit possible every time, and want children to look forward to regular dental visits, for a lifetime of great dental health.

Here are a few tips on Visiting the Dentist:

-Your child’s first visit should be on or before the first birthday.  Your child’s teeth, gums, and entire mouth should have their initial assessment by this milestone in his or her life.  This is the standard guideline that is supported both by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (“AAPD”).    Important factors such as: your child’s medical history, oral hygiene, nutrition practice, growth patterns, fluoride needs or other oral issues will be evaluated, and reviewed with you.  Then, an appropriate preventative dental program will be “custom made” for your child by the dentist.   There is a positive slogan by the AAPD that is “1+1 = ZERO“.  This means One Dental Visit when the Child has One Tooth (or is “one” year of age) can equal Zero Cavities.  This is especially important if either parent has had a history of decay, or if your older children have had cavities.  These factors increase your child’s risk for decay, so coming to the dentist early can help implement the appropriate preventative practices to have minimal dental issues.   After the first visit at age 1, the dentist may recommend the next (second) visit to be in twelve months, then every six months after that. The next (second) visit may be earlier than in twelve months if there are any concerns that need to be monitored within that time (example: if there is a concern about cavities).

-Your child should have a dental exam two times a year.  The AAPD recommends dental examinations at least twice a year for most children.  As I mentioned in the above section, after the first visit at age 1, the dentist may recommend that your child return twelve months after the first visit, then every six months after that.   Based on your child’s decay risk, oral hygiene, or growth/orthodontic issues, the dentist will adjust your visit frequency accordingly.  If your child does not have decay, it is still important for your child to be seen at least two times a year to make modifications to diet or oral hygiene if there is a need to do so.  It is also important to bring yourself and your child up-to-date on the most current information regarding preventative dentistry, and to assess your child’s changing “bite” as he or she grows and loses baby teeth/gets new adult teeth.  

-If your child is fearful of a dental visit, that is more reason to bring him or her to the dentist.  If necessary, introducing your child to the dentist can occur with one small step at a time.  The first visit may only involve your child receiving a new toothbrush and the dentist performing a quick examination with the mirror to ensure everything looks healthy.  There are many “greys” to the first visit and overall, first dental visits do not have to be seen in “black and white” as something to be “pushed” if it is too much for your child.  Some parents feel that their child will not cooperate for the dentist because he or she is too young or afraid, so they postpone the appointment.  Please don’t be one of those parents—this could lead to more fear of the dentist as years go on.   The visit can be adapted according to your child’s initial comfort level.

-There are great books that you can purchase or borrow from the library about going to the dentist.  Your child will enjoy them! In my own experiences, I have found that when parents and children read stories about going to the dentist, children are very familiar and more receptive to the introduction of many previously unfamiliar instruments or procedures.  Two great examples of books are the Bernstein Bears book about the dentist or the Dora the Explorer book about the dentist.  Your local librarian can also recommend some great books about going to the dentist.

-If your child needs a “filling” to resolve a cavity, maintain a positive and upbeat attitude regarding the upcoming visit.  The attitude of the parent is a key factor in making this visit a success for the child.   The words you choose, your facial expressions, comments, and questions directed to the dentist/staff are all perceived by your child during the visit.  When a parent remains positive, even the most uncomfortable parts of the visit easier for your child!   Take cues from the dentist and staff—often times we use more pleasurable names for instruments and procedures.  It is a great idea to touch base with the dentist/staff about how much you should discuss with your child beforehand.   The dental team working with your child will use different terms for objects such as local anesthetic, the drill, dental x-rays, for example, in order to make the experience less overwhelming.  Also touch base with the dentist in private about your child’s past experience or reaction to other medical situations, especially the “shot”. Avoid using words/terms such as: “hurt”, “scary” or “I’m sorry”.   The dental team can give you advice on what terms to use if necessary.

-Parents with a positive perception of the dentist “pass that vibe” on to the child; this is often more of a challenge for parents with a negative perception of the dentist.  It is inevitable that some of us did not have the best experience with the dentist and do not  want our child to go through the same.  If this is the case, it may be a good idea to have your spouse, a relative or even a trusted friend take your child to his or her first visit.  Give the office a call ahead to inform the dentist of your fear or past trauma to ensure that your child’s experience is a positive one.  This approach has been extremely successful with many children. The best part is when the parent, after seeing how happy the child is after the first or second visit, will then accompany him/her to future visits. The most precious person in that parent’s life is happy at the dentist, and that is a great feeling for the parents, child and the dental team.

In closing, there are many great things that you can do to ensure your child’s dental visits go smoothly: from timing of the first visit, to the frequency of visits, to your positive energy before and during all dental appointments.  

Regular visits to the dentist, in addition to great nutrition and toothbrushing that we discussed in previous weeks, can lead to minimal dental problems and a lifetime of dental health for your child.

Have a great week, and Happy Children's National Dental Health Month!

Fotini M. Dionisopoulos, D.M.D,  “Dr. Fotini”

"Dr. Fotini" completed her dental training at Tufts Dental School and Boston University Dental School.  She practices in Cranston and Providence at  Pediatric Dentistry Ltd. with Dr. Steven Lasser and Dr. Craig Elice.  New patients are always welcome, starting from infancy to late teens.  Children are now recommended to have their first visit by age 1.  Dr. Fotini is always happy to answer any of your questions regarding your child's dental health.  Her office locations are the following:  Cranston: 1090 New London Avenue, Cranston, RI 401-943-7535, and Providence:  226 Waterman Street, Providence, RI 401-273-0750.