Paediatric Dentistry

WHAT IS INVOLVED?

The Process

Preparation
Ideally, your child’s first visit to the dentist should take place between the age of 1 and 2 years old. It is important that the child views a trip to the dentist as something routine that everyone in the family does to maintain healthy gums and a good smile, and not as an event to be feared. You can start to introduce your child to the dentist by bringing him or her along with you (and other family members) for your own dental check-ups. Let them watch the procedure and ask questions.

Should you have any anxiety, try not transfer these negatives emotions to your child and refrain from using the dentist as a threat (e.g. “if you eat too many sweets, you have to see the dentist” or “if you do not brush your teeth properly, the dentist will scold you”) as this will set up the dental visit as a negative experience for the child.

Consultation
Schedule the first visit when there is no major treatment to be done. If a problem does arise in the future, you have the contact details of a dentist your child is familiar with on hand. When the first visit is made when your child is in pain and more extensive treatment is required, dental visits may become associated with pain or discomfort.

It is also a good idea to schedule the dental appointment when the child is rested and not hungry. The appointment will then be much smoother.

During the first visit, it is important for your child to feel comfortable with the clinic environment and our dental specialists/ dentists. Thus, our dental specialists/ dentists will normally start conversing with your child before starting any treatment. He or she will then start with an oral examination before deciding if is there is a need for x-rays.

Treatment
If necessary, our dental specialists/ dentists will discuss any treatment with the parents. Otherwise, a simple cleaning may be carried out to reinforce a positive attitude towards the dentist.

The first appointment will take approximately 30 to 45 minutes. However, each child is different and some children will take a longer time to get used to the dental clinic environment than others.

During the visit, our dental specialists/ dentists will also discuss good oral hygiene habits, suitable tooth friendly diets and unfavourable oral habits with the parents.

Follow Up Care
Children’s teeth, like adults’ teeth, require maintenance. This means flossing, brushing and regular dental check-ups and maintenance every 6 months.