How Can I Prepare My Special Needs Child for Their First Dental Appointment?

A first dental visit can pose challenges for some children with special needs. Your child might feel anxious before this new experience. You might wonder if they can sit still for the entirety of a cleaning. 

You can rest assured our friendly team at Hendricks Dental Specialists in Brentwood, Tennessee, is ready to welcome special needs children and will prioritize their comfort during their first visit. 

Our Hendricks Dental Specialists team works gently with children of all ages. Before any dental service, we review your child’s oral health history, lifestyle habits, preferences, and needs. We also offer nitrous oxide as a calming agent to help kids sit still. 

Our team recommends bringing your child in for a first pediatric dentistry visit by 12 months. 

Are you getting ready to bring your special needs child in for a first visit to Hendricks Dental Specialists? Here’s what you can do to help them prepare: 

Establish a dental routine at home

Getting your child into the habit of brushing their teeth at home twice daily can prime them for a visit to the dentist. They get used to the sensation of brushing their teeth and having an unusual object in their mouth. 

Depending on your child’s age and sensory preferences, consider an electric toothbrush. An electric toothbrush feels more similar to our dental tools. 

Practice having your child open their mouth

During a dental visit, your child will need to sit with their mouth open as we examine their teeth. You can practice this at home so your child knows what to expect. 

Look at media about going to the dentist

Reading books about going to the dentist with your child or showing them videos about dental visits can give them a better idea of what to expect. 

A child might feel intimidated by a dental visit just because they don’t understand the process. However, seeing or reading about relatable characters visiting the dentist can give them more confidence before their appointment. 

Bring comfort items to the appointment

Some special needs children are sensitive to sounds and other stimuli. If this is the case for your child, bring noise-canceling headphones, a computer tablet, or a musical device so your child feels more at ease. 

Let our team know if they feel uncomfortable or need something during the visit. 

Comfort items might include: 

• A favorite blanket
• A stuffed animal
• Stress balls
• Fidget toys

This way, your child will have something to hold onto while our team examines and treats them.

Bring sensory or communication devices

Some special needs children are sensitive to sounds and other stimuli. If this is the case for your child, bring noise-canceling headphones, computer tablet, or musical device so your child feels more at ease. 

Let our team know if they feel uncomfortable or need something during the visit. 

Get in touch

Our friendly team welcomes you to stop by for a visit before your child’s official first appointment. We greet kids with a smile and allow them to adjust to the new environment with less pressure ahead of time. 

Call Hendricks Dental Specialists to schedule an initial tour of the office or book your child’s first dental visit today.