When you are a new parent, every “first” for your child is a milestone.

… your son’s first steps.

… your daughter’s first words.

… your child’s first haircut.

An equally important milestone for your entire family is your son or daughter’s first visit to the dentist. The staff at our office in Novi, MI, understands this. It’s also why we go out of our way to make your child’s first visit with us as enjoyable as it can be.

We know that a good first experience at the dentist office can make a world of difference in your child’s oral health for decades to come. If your child sees the dentist office as a friendly place, this will make it easier for him or her and for you as parents in the future.

To learn more about our approach to dental care for kids, call 248-697-2487 to reach Dr. James C. Ross, Family, Cosmetic & Laser Dentistry. You also can contact us with our online form.

What You Can Expect During Your Visit

Our primary goal during your child’s first visit is to make the experience as pleasant as it can be. We know this is a special occasion, and we want your child to feel special when he or she is in our office.

Our team loves working with children, and that makes our office one of the most kid-friendly practices that you will find.

When your son or daughter arrives, we will introduce members of our staff, and then we will be happy to give you a tour of our office. We can show your child the many gadgets and gizmos we use to keep our patients’ mouths healthy.

Your child’s visit will include some fun activities such as a ride on one of our dental chairs. We also can let them wear our virtual vision glasses, which allows them to watch one of their favorite television shows during their visit.

And there might be a few games and prizes as well. (Your child will have to visit us to find out.)

Now, we do want to take a look at your child’s teeth during this first visit although some children aren’t quite ready for this. That’s OK. We don’t want to force your child to do anything. As he or she gets to know us better, we find that children will open up to us with a little time and patience.

How You Can Help

There are many things you can do to help your child prepare for his or her first official visit to the dentist.

One of those things is bringing your child with you when you have your teeth cleaned. You may even want to schedule a cleaning for yourself to go along with your child’s first visit.

This way your child can watch what happens when you are in the dentist’s chair. Being able to see what we do can help your son or daughter know what to expect when it is his or her turn to have a cleaning.

This can remove some of the anxiety they might otherwise feel about dental care.

You also can talk to your child about what we do at the dentist office. You can explain why you visit the dentist, and you can use your own experience to help them understand why we are trying to help him or her stay healthy.

Last but not least, emphasize the positive aspects of dental care. This can help your son or daughter see the dentist office as a positive place where people want to help them.

Working Together To Help Your Family

There’s a saying that “It takes a village to raise a child.”

Dental care could be a great example of this. At home, you are encouraging your children to take care of their oral health. You try not to let them eat too many sweets, and you teach them to brush and floss on a daily basis.

Our team at Dr. James C. Ross, Family, Cosmetic & Laser Dentistry is here to support your efforts to promote good oral health. In fact, we’ve even been recognized for those efforts. In 2015, we received Metro Parent Magazine’s Mom’s Choice Award.

If you would like to learn more about our approach to children’s dentistry, feel free to contact us in whatever way is most convenient for you. Stop by our office in Novi, MI, call 248-697-2487, or fill out our online contact form.