Before the appointment, reading books or watching videos designed for children can help them to understand what to expect at the dentist. Any discussions should be positive, rather than creating the image that the dental clinic is a scary place

We generally recommend that children’s first dental visits are at the same time as their parents or carers to allow them to explore the room and observe what happens in the dental clinic environment

Once your child has a chance to familiarise themselves with the surroundings, we initially review their teeth, mouths and jaws in the dental chair or on their parent’s lap to review their dental development

We find teaching your child how to look after their teeth, and helping them to keep them clean helps to create a positive attitude towards keeping their teeth healthy. We often use special tooth paints to see where the germs on their teeth like to hide and show them how to brush their teeth to chase them all away! We can also assess individual circumstances such as diet, habits and dexterity to advise you how to give your child’s teeth the best to develop correctly and stay healthy!