How do you feel when you learn you have to go to the DMV? Do you have positive or negative associations with the emergency room? We’re willing to bet you don’t feel enthused about either of these places because your experiences there weren’t positive. This is why many children don’t like going to the dentist if they don’t visit regularly for preventive care—they only know the dentist’s office as a place they need to go when they have a bad toothache or need a cavity filled. A happy visit gives your child the opportunity to create positive associations with our office by having them visit us when they’re not in pain or in need of restorative dental work.
When to Schedule a Happy Visit
If your child has been seeing a pediatric dentist regularly since their first birthday, there may not be a need for a happy visit. On the other hand, if your child is around the age of 2 or 3 and has never seen the dentist, it’s the perfect time to schedule a happy visit and a subsequent comprehensive oral evaluation and dental cleaning. The happy visit will help them get acquainted with our office and our team, while the next visit will allow us to assess their overall oral health and provide preventive treatments to keep their teeth healthy.
Another reason to schedule a happy visit is if your child is new to our dental practice. Although they may be familiar with what happens during a dental appointment, visiting a new office can cause anxiety. By coming in to meet with Dr. Liao and our team prior to their first evaluation and dental cleaning, your child will feel more at ease with us and have a better idea of what to expect.
What Happens During a Happy Visit
With a happy visit, there are no expectations on our end—we follow your child’s lead. Some children are timid and nervous, so they may only feel up for meeting our team members and taking a tour of our office. More outgoing kids can have a seat in our exam chair, look at the equipment we use to keep their smiles healthy, and learn about the nutrition and oral hygiene habits they should be practicing at home.
Sometimes, a child is feeling especially enthusiastic during their happy visit, in which case we might be able to proceed with their full dental cleaning and comprehensive oral evaluation. We will count their teeth, make sure they are erupting properly, examine them for signs of tooth decay, and perform a gentle dental cleaning to remove deposits of tartar and plaque.
Ultimately, our goal is to make your child’s visit with us a positive experience so they come to view our office as a familiar place full of friendly faces. By building trust between children, their families, and our staff, we lay the foundation for establishing our practice as their dental home.
Learn More About Happy Visits
If your child has never been to the dentist before and you’d like to schedule a happy visit with Dr. Liao at Dental Associates of Lodi, contact us today at 862-247-8030. We look forward to meeting you and your child!
