How you prepare

Before scheduling your child's first dental exam, consider whether you'd be most comfortable visiting your family dentist or taking your child to a pediatric dentist — a dentist who provides specialized dental and oral care to children, from infants to teens. Pediatric dentists typically have child-friendly offices and equipment specially designed for children.

To help prepare your child for a dental exam:

• Carefully time your child's visit. Schedule dental exams for your child at a time of day when he or she is rested and most likely to cooperate.
• Be positive. When talking to your child about the dental exam, avoid using words such as "pain," "shot" or "hurt." Instead, tell your child that the dentist will use special tools to make sure your child's teeth are healthy. Remind your child that you visit the dentist, but don't mention any negative dental experiences you might have had.
• Listen to your child. Encourage your child to share worries about visiting the dentist or having a dental exam.