Like most parents, you probably want a childhood better for your kid than your own. From classrooms to friends to family vacations, you want them to have things easier and better than you did! No doubt that includes visits to the dentist too.

That’s understandable and smart. Your children’s first impressions of the dentist are often lasting ones. If their early dental experiences are good, they’ll be more likely to get regular dental exams, cleanings, and other routine care throughout their lives. So they’ll have healthy, happy smiles!
Perhaps the most important thing in introducing your child to the dentist is choosing a kid-friendly practice. At North Oaks Dental, we welcome kids ages 3 and up to our Royal Oak, MI dentist office.

If you’ve got a large family, we’re even happy to schedule their appointments on the same day so you won’t have to make as many trips to our office. Just let us know when you call us at 248-712-1522. With 13 patient rooms and five dentists, including two orthodontists, it’s usually not a problem. We’re located near Oak Ridge Elementary School.

We’re open as late as 6 p.m. So it’s simple to schedule your appointments after school, sports, or other activities. We even offer Saturday hours. All of our staff have lots of experience in working with youngsters. Dr. Daboul has three young sons – so you know nothing fazes him when it comes to kids!

We offer lots of services to help keep your children’s teeth in top shape, including custom-made mouthguards to protect their mouths during sports and dental sealants to help keep out decay from hard-to-clean teeth like those in the back of the mouth.

We know you want your children’s dental visits to go well, so we’ve provided some of our favorite tips here on creating and maintaining a positive attitude toward the dentist. We’ve got tips for babies and toddlers, and tips for slightly older kids too.

Tips for Bringing Baby to the Dentist

Here are some tips for making your visits with your youngest children go smoothly:

  • Make an appointment for a time when your child is generally rested and in a good mood, maybe after nap time.
  • Ask a friend, spouse, older sibling, or grandparent to come with you, so you can focus more fully on speaking with our dentists and staff. Write down any questions you have ahead of time, so you don’t forget to ask.
  • Bring along a favorite blanket, toy, or other “comfort object” to make your child feel more comfortable.
  • Feed your baby before your visit. Don’t offer them snacks at our office. It’ll be easier for us to examine your child’s teeth without food residue.
  • Take advantage of our new patient forms to fill out all of your baby’s information prior to your appointment. This saves time and hassle!

Tips for Bringing Older Kids to the Dentist

As your children get older, you can really start working on creating positive associations for the dentist with these tips:

  • Bring your child to your own routine dental visits – but only if you have a good attitude about the dentist yourself. If you’re anxious, it’s best to leave your child home.
  • Give each other “exams,” opening your mouths and looking at each other’s teeth, so your child knows what to expect.
  • Describe the visit in positive terms. Say “we get to go the dentist” instead of “we have to go the dentist.”
  • Read your child books that present dentistry in a positive way. There are plenty from which to choose, including ones that feature popular characters like Curious George, Peppa Pig, and the Berenstain Bears.
  • Let your child select their own toothbrushes and toothpaste. Encourage them to bring them to their appointments to show the staff.
  • Before or after visiting our office, enjoy another activity together like getting ice cream or playing in the park. Be sure not to present it as a bribe or a reward, though.

We can’t wait to see you and your kids! We hope our tips on introducing your child to the dentist make you all more excited about visiting our office. Call 248-712-1522 to schedule an appointment.