For months, I (Litsa) had prepped my four year old about going to the dentist in February——-we would tell her after Christmas, next month, in a few weeks, after Valentine’s Day….as we coaxed her to brush her teeth thoroughly! Then the week and the day of going to the dentist for the first time finally arrived: Monday, February 18th, 2013.
The week before my daughter’s first dental visit, we discovered permanent teeth emerging—her first molars or six year molars!! Luckily, Renae was able to reaffirm that this was normal as we waited out seeing the dentist. Some children get their teeth sooner than others!
The night before her first dental visit, my little one hugged my neck after story time in the dark in her bedroom and asked questions about why we had to go to the dentist. I answered her questions and reassured her that it would not hurt and that I would be there to hold her hand as needed.
She showed no anxiety as we walked into the dentist’s office. She immediately found the toys and coloring books and made herself at home. When they called her name, she cleaned up and quietly followed behind the dental hygienist who introduced herself as Tammy. (We took a bathroom break just in case—so as not to disturb the cleaning process.) From that point, Tammy took over talking in a slow, informative voice so that my little girl understood each step of the process!
As a mom and former elementary school teacher, I was pleased with the visual and auditory elements that our dental hygienist used to inform my four year old of each step. I also delighted that my little patient had a choice in cleaning paste——she selected mint! The only other request she made is that I hold her hand. I did. But when the dentist walked in to check her smile and teeth, she was a pro——forgetting to even request Mommy’s hand.
No tears! No cavities! The perfect little dental patient that rocked her smile as she made her dental hygienist, dentist, and Mommy & Daddy very proud today!
Don’t miss the chance to ask Renae all about how to Rock Your Smile—or your child(ren)’s smile this month!!
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