It is time for your baby to have his or her first dental appointment.  But where do you go?  Your first impulse may be to take your child to your own dentist, however that may not be a good idea, unless a sizable part of your dentist practice is also for young children. However your dentist can more then likely recommend a kid friend dentist that you could take your child to.  Friends with children already seeing a dentist is a good source of recommendations as well.

Once you determined the dentist you will be taking your child to, you will want to make an appointment to tour the office with your child.  You will want to observe how the staff handles children, and make sure you are comfortable with all the procedures. Make sure you go to a dentist that aloud parents in the examining room with the child. Watch to make sure the dentist stops working if a child gets upset or nervous.  Look for cleanliness, dental tools should be wrapped in plastic, the staff should wear protective gloves and masks and patients should wear protective glasses.

Make sure to provide your child dentist with a list of an medical conditions he or she has or any medications he or she may take.  Keep your pediatrician’s phone number handy, too, incase the dentist needs any additional health information.

In addition inform your child dentist if your child has a sucking habit, be it thumb, pacifier or bottle, as it may effect your child’s teeth and jaw.

Lastly make sure to talk to your child about what is going to happen. BE POSITIVE let them know this is a good thing as well as fun.  If you have your own personal fears of dentist do not pass them on to your child.