Prevent
Dental Care, Just for Kids
Visiting the dentist can be scary for anyone, especially kids. At First Class Smiles, we provide treatment designed specifically for children, so your child can have a relaxing, educational, and fun trip to the dentist’s office.
Meeting Your Child’s Unique Dental Needs
Getting a head-start on dental health is essential and we’re here at First Class Smiles to help make it as easy as possible. As parents themselves, our caring dentists will explain everything they do in a reassuring and fun way so you and your child stay fully informed on their smile journey.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Dental Association, and First Class Smiles recommend that your child should first visit a dentist in Des Plaines about six months after their first tooth erupts, and no later than your child’s first birthday.
This may seem young, but finding a dental home for your child is the key to a lifetime of dental health. Dr. Grandinetti, Dr. Morrison, and our entire First Class team understand that children have different needs than adults, and are fully equipped to give your child the best experience.
What to Expect at Your Child’s First Appointment
Your first visit to First Class Smiles will be tailored to your child’s age, personality, and individual needs. Some children need to use this time to get familiar with the room and people, while others are ready for an examination, cleaning, and topical fluoride treatment right away.
Our doctors will examine your baby’s mouth and teeth as well as make sure you have the tools and knowledge to help prevent future dental problems.
We’ll also discuss preventive measures. We try to limit the number of X-rays we take, so we’ll only take X-rays when a specific dental situation warrants it.
Tips For Parents
We want your child’s first dental visit to be as comfortable as possible. If your child is feeling anxiety before their appointment with First Class Smiles, you can help them feel more relaxed or even excited for their visit.
We offer the following tips for their first visit to our Des Plaines office:
- Take another adult along for the visit. Having more people there to help soothe them and make them feel safe will help us immensely and they will be more comfortable around someone they trust.
- Leave other children at home if possible. Other children can cause a distraction. This will alleviate stress for you and your child.
- Use positive language to describe the dentist. Avoid using scary terms like “drills” or “needles” and instead talk about how they’ll help your child keep their teeth happy so they can see the positive side of dentistry.
- Be honest about what will happen during their appointment so they know what to expect. There are many children’s books that can help prepare your child for the dentist as well.
Benefits of Early Dental Care
It’s important to keep baby teeth healthy because problems with baby teeth can affect how permanent teeth grow later on. If you neglect your child’s cavities, they can cause pain and infection, leading to problems with their developing permanent teeth.
We understand that your child’s first dental visit can be stressful for you as a parent as well. At First Class Smiles, we’re always happy to answer any questions you have and to give both you and your child the best dental experience possible.