Pediatric Dentistry
At Marion Smile Center, we believe that creating a great first dental experience for children is the key to developing a lifelong happy and calm dental patient. Some children might learn to fear going to the dentist after hearing stories from their friends or seeing incorrect depictions on TV. Whatever the reason, soothing a child’s anxiety is necessary to successfully develop a healthy attitude toward dental care and for the clinician themselves to successfully perform dental procedures.
To make our littlest patients feel even more comfortable, we recently renovated our Children’s Playroom. Our designer was given the challenge of not only creating an engaging environment but also a calming one. Parents are loving the “Enchanted Forest” themed playroom. Kids are just loving the fun things in there that keep them engaged. Favorites for the children are the Pac Man machine, TV, iPads, blackboard filled with pictures of other Marion Smile Center child patients, and action-figures toys.
We also included in the playroom every book we could find on Children Dental Visits. Some of them are: The Berestain Bears books, Dr. Suess, Tooth Fairy book with matching stuffed tooth fairy doll. Feel free to come a bit early to your child’s dental appointment so that they can spend time in the playroom; and perhaps, you can read a fun child-oriented dental book to them!
We go even a step further in our pediatric dental oriented practice. We offer nitrous sedation to patients of all ages including children as well. Often, the calming effect of the “laughing gas" (nitrous oxide) on our little patients relaxes the child. Dr. Mark will place numbing gel on their gums to reduce the sensation of an anesthetic injection that the child may need when removing cavities from their mouth, we refer to this as "sleepy juice" to put the tooth to sleep (we never say "needle" or "shot").
Most of our dental assistants and dental hygienists are mothers themselves and Dr. Mark is the father of two children, Mason and Morgan. In fact, one of our clinical team members is a former teacher with child clearances. She’s a big part of making sure that the playroom toys and child photos are up to date. As an assistant, she then walks your child from the playroom to the treatment room. We’re experienced with children and it shows.
If you have any questions regarding what to say to your child before their first visit, see the guides below:
First Dental Visits Start at Age 2
The earlier your child begins getting dental check-ups and cleanings, the better. Dr. Marion recommends that a child have their first dental visit at age 2. These early appointments are important for making sure your child’s smile is healthy and their oral development is on track. Another big benefit is that going to the dentist while young allows children to be comfortable and develop a rapport with the practice, making future visits all the more pleasant.
Tell Your Child About Their First Dental Visit on Same Day as Appointment
When children (or adults, too!) do not know what to expect, their imaginations can get the best of them. That is why we do not recommend that parents tell their child about their first dental visit too far in advance. It can lead to anxiety. It is also not a good idea to completely surprise them either and just show up at the dental office without informing them ahead of time. We find that letting your child know the morning of their appointment is best.
Click here for back to school dental tips.
Free Printables
The best thing you can do to prepare your preschooler or older child for a trip to the dentist is to give them a general idea what to expect – emphasizing why it’s important to go to the dentist.
Here are a few tips to consider:
