21
Volume2 Issue3
|
CDA
at
W
ork
2
“THEY’RE
TOOFIDGETY!
”
and other misconceptions about the first dental visit
Thisgeneral concept is supportedbyCDA, theCanadianAcademyof PediatricDentistry, the
AmericanDental Association, theAmericanAcademyof PediatricDentistry, theCanadianPediatric
Societyand theAmericanAcademyof Pediatrics andacademics. Onapersonal level, I have taught
thisprinciple toeverydental student that hasgraduated from theUniversityof Toronto thesepast
20+years. Yet just theother day Iwas lookingat onedentist’swebsite saying that parents should
bring their children for thefirst visit to thedentist at age3or 4!
Suchmixedmessages canmake it hard for parents to know that they shouldbring their infants to
thedentist byage1 tohelpprevent thepotentially serious impact of earlychildhoodcaries (ECC).
According toa recent report by theCanadian Institute forHealth Information, hospital outpatient
dental surgery for ECCconstituted31%of all day surgery for childrenage1 to4,making it the
leadingcauseof day surgery for children in this agegroup.
1
Theconsequencesof untreatedECCcannot be ignored. Pain, difficultyeatingand sleeping, speech
problems andpoor self-esteemcanoccur. UntreatedECCcanalsoaffect growthand theability to
concentrateand function. Thequalityof lifeof theyoungest, andoftenmost vulnerable,members
of our societycanbe seriouslycompromised. Andyet, this condition ispreventable. First tooth, first
birthday, first visit—theage1dental visit is abest practicewecanall support andadopt.
Sowhat are someof thebarriersormyths regarding thefirst dental visit?
1
Beforeage1 is tooearly for
afirstvisit to thedentist.
Thefirst visit ismostlydevoted to
a thoroughdevelopmental and
dental history, acaries riskassessment
andprovidinganticipatoryguidance
to theparents. Inessence, youare
establishingadental home for
thechildandparents. It is an
occasion toeducateparents
and share tips andadvice
onoptimal oral healthcare
for children. Achild’s first visit
to thedentist shouldbe
seenby thepublicand the
professionas an important
milestone tocelebrate. For
manychildren, adelayed
first dental visit is too
late toprevent the
ravagesof ECC.
Infantsaredisruptiveand toodifficult to
controlandexamine.
Infantshaveuniqueneeds. Theycanbefidgety,
preoccupied, shy, and sometimes frightened.
Witha littlepreparationanda fewdistractions,
examining infants canbe fun for you, theparents
and thechild.
Hereare someeasyways tocreateapositive
experience:
–
Your examination room isaplayground.
Withnewpeople, shining lights, and
interestinggadgets, thereareplentyof
ways todistract andentertain infants
whileyouexamine them.
–
Have realisticexpectations.
Most babieswon’t have the
patience to keep theirmouthopen for longer thana few
minutesor even seconds.
–
Beefficient!
Haveaparent or caregiver cuddle thechild
during theexaminationusinga knee-to-kneeposition.
Ask your staff toentertain thechildwhen theyaregetting
impatient.
–Make it fun.
Keep toysor child-friendlydistractionshandy.
"When shoulda
childfirst seea
dentist?” isaquestion
that,asapediatric
dentist, Igetaskeda
lot.Myresounding
answer isalways,
“Within6monthsof
eruptionof thefirst
toothorbyage1—or
as I like to say ‘first
tooth,firstbirthday,
firstvisit.’ ”
byDr. PaulAndrews
