Parents never want to hear that their child has a cavity. That often leads to questions about what you could have done to prevent it or if it’s a baby tooth if your child needs cavity treatment. If you want to know how to prepare for your child’s first cavity filling, contact Lovett Dental Webster today at 832-932-5584.
Preparing for Your Child’s First Cavity Filling
You might have instilled the best oral hygiene habits into your child’s daily routine. However, you might still find yourself preparing for your child’s first cavity filling. A tooth cavity isn’t a sign of bad parenting or that your child isn’t taking good care of their teeth. Sometimes these things happen despite our best toothbrushing and flossing practices.
Here are some tips for preparing your child for their first cavity filling:
- Be prepared for questions: Your child may have many questions about their upcoming tooth filling and why it has to happen. Describe what they can expect when going to the pediatric dental office and how things might feel afterward. Don’t forget to talk about the drill noise and that, after receiving a numbing agent, they won’t feel a thing.
- Stay as calm as possible: No parent wants to see their children experiencing anxiety or fear. Help keep your child’s anxiety to a minimum by remaining calm and being reassuring.
- Emphasize the after-effects: Remind your child that the dentist’s medication prevents them from feeling pain during the procedure. Some children don’t like the feeling afterward, so prepare them for that sensation.
- Reiterate good oral hygiene habits: Even if the cavity treatment isn’t the result of poor dental hygiene, now is the time to go over brushing and flossing habits. Talk to your child about limiting junk food, sweets, and sugary drinks.
Share Your Tooth Cavity Experiences
Before your child’s tooth filling, talk to them about your experiences at the dentist. When they hear that you might have had the same concerns as they did, that could put them at ease. When you help them understand what they’re going through by talking to them about your experiences with a tooth cavity, they know they’re not alone.
Talking to your child about your experiences also helps them trust what you say about what to expect. Having these discussions not only reassures them that everything is going to be okay, but it also helps calm them down. Remember to make these conversations as positive as possible. Using gentle terms prevents your child from worrying about if something is going to hurt or go wrong.
The Importance of Pediatric Dentists
Family dentists can fill your child’s cavity. However, a pediatric dentist has specialized training in this area. They understand how nervous a child is before their first cavity filling. These offices are child-friendly, so you and your children feel comfortable and at ease as soon as you walk into the lobby. The dentist and their staff also have experience explaining dental procedures and methods for making children feel comfortable.
Before the visit, the pediatric dentist might suggest reading a book to your child about what it’s like during a visit. Consider encouraging your child to bring something with them that helps comfort them. That could mean getting a small stuffed toy or wearing loose-fitting clothing. The goal here is for children to feel as comfortable during this procedure as possible.
Schedule Your Child’s First Cavity Filling at Lovett Dental Webster Today
It’s a priority for most parents for their child to have a healthy smile, but a cavity could become their reality at some point. At Lovett Dental Webster, we understand how nervous it can be for a child before their first cavity filling. You can trust us to discuss the procedure while working to keep your child as comfortable as possible. We offer a range of dental treatments, including:
- Fluoride treatments
- Dental cleanings
- Emergency dental treatments
- Dental braces
- Pediatric dentistry
Contact Lovett Dental Webster at 832-932-5584 to schedule an appointment today.
