dentist Seattle WA - How to Prepare Your Child for Their First Visit to the Dentist| Summit Dental Care

How to Prepare Your Child for Their First Visit to the Dentist

Posted on 02/21/2022 by Nam Thien Vu, DDS

Regular dental checkups are as important for children as they are for adults. However, unlike adults, a visit to the dentist can seem much scarier to children. That’s why, they need to be prepared beforehand so that they not only willingly go to the dentist, but also follow all treatments and instructions without trouble.

Here’s what you should keep in mind:

Use the Right Words

Right from the beginning, it's important that you use the right words. Words like pain and needles will only scare your child further. Therefore, when explaining to them what they can expect, use words that will encourage them such as healthy and strong teeth. Moreover, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, rather than using words, you can also utilize pictures and videos to prepare them.

Do Role Playing at Home

Another way to prepare them is to do role playing at home. You can pretend to be the dentist and they can play the patient. You can pretend to do a simple checkup of their teeth using a spoon to show them that there's nothing to be scared about.

Give Them Something to Look Forward To

If they are extra nervous or scared, you can distract them by giving them something else to think about or look forward to. For example, you can plan a trip to the park or their favorite shop right after the dentist's visit. This should give them something to be excited about.

Provide Constant Support and Reassurance

Most importantly, you need to constantly remind them that you're there and nothing bad is going to happen. You can take along their favorite toy or blanket for that additional emotional support. With their favorite objects with them, they will feel much more reassured and less nervous.

Seattle Dentist
Dr. Vu and the team are like family! They treat my dental needs and make me feel right at home. When I had a dental emergency they cleared out time to make sure I was taken care of. I knocked 2 teeth out in a bike accident and you can’t even tell!! They also make a great point to support the LGBTQ+ community!

- Scotty C

Dentist In Seattle
Dr. Vu and his staff are not only professional and well organized, they are also very welcoming and personable. They make you feel instantly comfortable the moment you walk in. They are a modern practice with state of the art technology and open to all clientele. Their work is fantastic and my teeth look and feel great.

- Justin P.

Downtown Seattle Dentist
Summit Dental Care: convenient location in downtown Seattle; strong online website and patient portal (e.g., appointments, dental records); reception staff, hygienist, chairside assistants - competent and professional. Most importantly, there is Summit Dental's Dr. Vu, DDS - a very skilled dental professional who seems to genuinely care about the welfare of his patients. A recent dental crisis/emergency was handled without delay; when a tooth is "making its presence known," one doesn't want to hear, "Let me see if we have any openings..."! Dr. Vu replaced my (now retired) dentist of 20+ years - it has been a wise decision to stay with the practice.

- Mark D.

Dentist Downtown Seattle
Dr. Vu is great. He and his staff are all friendly and kind, and I’ve consistently had good experiences at his office. He’s always trying to think of ways to improve patient experience- including offering noise canceling headphones for when you get fillings so you can listen to music or a podcast to distract you from the noise of the drill. Brilliant!

- Lindsay S.

Seattle Family Dentistry
I've been a patient here for 6 years now and Dr. Vu and the team continue to exceed my expectations. They do a great job of listening to you and treat you with the utmost respect. I am so happy here that I keep paying extra for an out-of-Network dental plan. My gum health has improved tremendously and I have reclaimed my smile.

- Michael Z.

NamThien Vu, DDS • Dentist Seattle • Summit Dental Care

Cosmetic Dentist in Seattle WA offering dental implants, sedation dentistry, dentures, mouthguards, tmj treatment & invisalign. Call today! (206) 292-9980

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