Kids & Dentists Detroit MI

Recently, I’ve been hearing more and more of these horror stories about 5-yo kids with 7 cavities having to go through all these painful operations. Oh man, if I get weak at the knees, I can’t imagine what it would do to my shy little 4-year old. 

Plus, I was that kid who in 5^th grade had the full-on headgear. If you just painted my school’s mascot on my head, you would’ve mistaken me for a cornerback (well, a puny, 90-pounder cornerback). Needless to say, I made lots of visits to my dentist. 

The main thing that I’ve learned about the dentist recently is that it can be a good experience, if we parents just get out of the way. I asked our family dentist, Dr. Jane Maa of Savin Dental Associates, about her perspective on the care of our kids’ teeth. I opted to include as much detail as possible here since this can get people pretty anxious.

How to Choose a Good Dentist For Your Kids

There’s really no great way to find a good dentist. Even Dr. Maa admitted as much. Nonetheless, Dr. Maa suggests the following:

• If you like your own dentist, you can ask if they take kids, and if so, starting at what age. Most general dentists do see kids.
• You can look at directories and customer reviews (e.g. yelp.com, American Dental Association ), but the best place is to start is your friends. Word-of-mouth is the best way to go.
• Pediatric dentists are typically really good – everything is set up for the kids. The chairs are smaller, the rooms are brighter, and you’ll have confidence that they know how to handle kids, even the junior monsters. Just remember, that they are considered specialists and are usually more expensive.

How to Prepare Your Kid for Their Dentist Appointment

• Talk about the experience in a positive light. “You’re so lucky to be going to the dental office. Only big boys and girls get to go. Everyone at Dr. Savin’s office is so nice, and they’re all looking forward to meeting you.” Talk about how going to the dentist makes our teeth shiny, healthy, and strong so we can eat well. Maybe you’ll get a prize, and you’ll always get a new toothbrush.
• Don’t talk about negative experiences. Obviously don’t tell your kids your old horror stories (“and then my blood spurted right onto his glasses!”) And explain to the older siblings not to do so either (“oh Johnny, the dentist is like that kid Sid in Toy Story!”). Don’t use these words: afraid, hurt, pain, shots, bleeding.
• Read some books to them. Some good ones: Dora Goes to the Dentist , Berenstein Bears Visit the Dentist , and Going to the Dentist . Don’t say “see, it’s not scary!” but instead say, “now that you're a big boy, you'll be able to visit the dentist like Dora, are you excited?!" For slightly older kids, there are some interactive games at the American Dental Association .

How to Have a Good Visit to the Dentist

• When you get your child’s appointment at the office, ask the receptionist for the name of the hygienist. Talk to your child about ...