Getting Ready for a Dentist Visit
Bonnie Headley, Project Director, Alaska Head Start Health
Improvement Initiative Dental Project, Anchorage, Alaska
When a child enrolls in Head Start, a dental exam and completion of any needed treatment are required. Many parents dread the thought of taking a young child to the dentist, but with proper preparation, the visit can be a pleasant experience for a young child.Home routines of tooth brushing and flossing will also help a child. If he is used to having adult fingers in his mouth during brushing and flossing, he will not be alarmed during a dental exam. A parent should take time to count the child's teeth in the mirror now and then. A child of three years usually has 20 teeth.
Allowing a child to watch a parent getting his teeth checked or cleaned is good preparation. This will allow the child to see the equipment and experience the environment of the office without having to participate. If he sees the parent cooperating and learning from the dental visit, he will want to do the same. If the parent is a person with great fear of the dentist, a relative or friend the child knows well can be asked to take him or her along on a dental visit. Both parents may want to go to the dentist, or take a friend of their child's along, so the child won't become bored.
Playing dentist is another way children can prepare for a visit. Head Start centers will have props for dental play, but a play area can be set up in the home. The parent can help a child examine the teeth of dolls and toy animals, and can take turns looking in each other's mouths and counting teeth. If the parent establishes a pleasant tone in this play, the child will expect and likely have a pleasant experience.
It is a good idea if the parent talks to the child about the nice dentist who helps people take care of their teeth. It may be tempting to tell a child that if she doesn't brush, she'll have to go to the dentist and get a shot-but NEVER USE THE DENTIST AS A THREAT! This will make it harder for the child to trust and cooperate with the dentist. Modern dentistry is not painful, and a well- trained dentist will not cause a child pain.
A parent should plan a reward for good cooperation at the dentist's office, such as special time with the parent or a best friend, a trip to a favorite spot, a picnic or a swim, a game of ball, or even a favorite dinner. If a child becomes afraid, he should not be punished or spoken to harshly, but reassured that it is all right to be afraid of new things.
If a parent talks about the experience afterwards, it will help the child be more comfortable with the next visit. Taking a child for an occasional check-up when there are no problems will help him think of dental visits as a regular part of life. EPSDT pays for a check-up every six months for children covered under the program, for which most Head Start families qualify.