How did your kiddo do at the dentist?

charmcitygirl

I really need to take Jacob to the dentist for the first time.  We have a form for his back up day care that has to be filled out by the time he's 3 - which is in just over 2 months.  And I want him to be okay with going to the dentist.  I hope he has the same teeth as DH and I - neither one of us has ever had a cavity.

Just wondering how other kids did while at the dentist for the first time.  I can anticipate, based on Jacob's temperament, how he will do.  But maybe I'm making it worse than it really is.

I'm going to take him to a pediatric dentist for the first few visits so they can distract him with TV and toys!  And since they have experience with little ones, they won't be surprised when he doesn't even want to sit in the chair (as I'm fearing).

pamela-matt

Ry did horrible...had to be held down.  BUT...all of this behavior is due to the fact that when he was one he had to be laid down and held down at the PCP for a cath...they had a really hard time and it took a long time.  Now whenever you lay him down on any type of medical bed/chair he freaks...even if it is just to feel his belly.  He was totally fine until the girl tilted the chair back.  We got books about going to the dentist to read ahead of time, over and over so he knew what to expect.

howleyshell

Awesome!

We checked out every "first trip to the dentist" book they had at the library and I think it really helped.  Dylan was actually telling the hygenist what she was going to do next.  Good way to conquer the fear of the unknown... make it known in advance.

I think a lot of it depends on the dentist too.  Ours explained from the start that the goal was to get him comfortable and they would only go as far as the kids would let them on the first visit.  So - if they only got to stick fingers in there so be it.  If they got all the way thru a cleaning that's awesome.  If they got past that and on to x-rays it's a miracle.

We're lucky that ours has TV's in the ceiling.  My guys would have laid there and let them lobotomize them as long as the TV's stayed on.  Needless to say we got all the way to x-rays with no problem.  

My kids adore our dentist! 

 

CHI-06

I think how they are at the Dr is a good indication.  My daughter did awesome at the dentist.  She was nervous you could tell but she let them check out her mouth and everything and was very proud when we left.  We went to a pediatric dentist as well.  They met with us first just in the office, not the chair area and talked about what was going to happen.  Really the only thing they wanted to do at her first visit was look around her mouth and count her teeth.  They then wanted to schedule another visit to do a cleaning.  This was all to help make her comfortable... alhough she ended up doing the cleaning that visit and did awesome.  She is also always good at the Dr and getting her shots and stuff... my second is horrible at all of that so I am not looking forward to her going to the dentist. 

DeputiesWife

We prepared her by telling her we were going and what they were going to do. The first appointment she was 3. She just let them count her teeth and not clean them. I brushed them while i was there to show the hygentist how I did them and she told me a few pointers.

We went when she was 3.5 and she did much better. They cleaned her teeth, and counted them and everything. She did great.

We take her to our dentist and on her first appointment they wouldn't hold her down or force her because they dont want the child to be fearful of the dentist.  

emiannie

Miles did GREAT!  But part of that is because a family friend was the hygienist who cleaned his teeth.  He didn't want to go near the chair, but she took her time with him and knew tricks to convince him it was okay and nothing to be scared of.  Taking him to a pediatric dentist is probably best...they're experts.  They deal with little kids all day everyday.  It helps. 

Good luck!!  I'm sure he'll surprise you.  :-)

EmilyAnne

Conor did awesome!  We took  him to a pediatric dentist - I actually graduated from HS with him so that was fun.  The office was really kid friendly.  It was decorated like a farm with animal murals on the walls, a huge stuffed cow, a barn that had a slide coming out of it, tv, books, etc. ALL in the waiting room.  So of course he thought the dentist was awesome!

The hygenist explained that if they only look at his teeth the first time that is fine.  They will only do what the kid will allow them.  The chair they had could lay totally flat and had tv's above them.  The hygenist said he didn't have to lay down if he didn't want to.  She could just look at his teeth with him sitting cross legged.

Surprisingly Conor let them clean his teeth and do x-rays on both top and bottoms.  I honestly thought he would be horrible but he wasn't.  He loved it so much he is asking to go back again.

 

keg

I'll tell you on Wednesday. :-)  DDs went about a year ago for a "smile check" and it was low stress, but they weren't really into it.  This time, we've been talking about it for a while, got some books and DVDs out of the library, and I think DH has his appointment first so they can watch him for a while.  I'm hoping they'll do well!

LIAngel

I haven't taken Nicholas yet and I'm nervous.  He clamps his mouth shut whenever the Dr tries to look in his mouth when he goes there.