What occurs at your child's dental appointment is determined in part by their age, their individual oral care needs, how long it has been since their last visit, and, most significantly, how comfortable they are throughout the appointment. But here's what you can expect from a child's first few dentist visits.

1. Welcoming your kid and showing them around the office. Talking to your child in a kind and personable manner may help to calm their fears, as can explaining things and piquing their curiosity about all the new sights and noises;

2. Examine your child's gums, teeth, and bite. Your dentist will examine your child's mouth, including the gums, lips, tongue, jaw, and palate. The dentist will also examine any teeth that are pushing through and educate you about your child's dental growth;

3. Gentle teeth cleaning. Your dentist or hygienist may do a mild cleaning using a soft toothbrush. Ask them about brushing technique, frequency, and length to understand how to take care of your child's teeth;

4. Giving advice about your child's dental hygiene. Now is the moment to ask your dentist questions and get guidance on:

- Habits of sucking a pacifier or fingers;
- Baby bottle teeth decay;
- Infant feeding;
- Teething pain and relief;
- Which toothpaste and toothbrush to use;
- How to clean your children's teeth;
- How to establish stable oral hygiene habits.
- What to expect next on the teething journey.

5. Optional X-rays. Your dentist will only take x-rays of your kid's teeth when absolutely required, and usually not until the child is 2 or 3 years old, unless there is a compelling cause, such as dental decay or delayed tooth eruption. As your kid grows older, your dentist will do x-rays every 12 to 36 months.

6. Reward. Your dentist and dental care team will applaud your kid for being courageous and a great patient. Some dentists create incentive schemes for children to provide additional praise and happiness for sitting in the chair and receiving dental treatment. Include your own compliments and maybe a modest prize for a job well done. 

When your kid is in preschool, your dentist will begin fluoride treatments to help strengthen tooth enamel and prevent cavities. Later on, further solutions such as molar sealants or orthodontics for teeth crowding or bite difficulties may be considered. Because your child's mouth changes so fast, scheduling and attending regular dental checkups is critical!

Tips for Dealing With Your Child's Fear of the Dentist
While going to the dentist is never a pleasurable activity, no one wants their child to have a negative experience there. You and your dental care professional will collaborate to ensure your child is as comfortable and relaxed as possible throughout their appointment. Here are some recommendations for what you can do before your toddler or preschooler's first dental visit, as well as any subsequent visits if necessary.

Talk about seeing the dentist
Tell your kid the name of the dentist and how you, your siblings, and other family members visit the dentist. Drive past the dentist's office and show them where they are heading. Encourage them to anticipate the impending visit like they would a party or vacation. Make going to the dentist a rite of passage, part of growing up, and an everyday occurrence;

Discuss what will happen when they go to the dentist
Most kids do better when they know ahead of time what will happen when they arrive. Use the material in the preceding section to discuss all of the possible outcomes of the visit. Find books about dentists and getting your teeth cleaned and read them to your child, or watch episodes of their favorite shows where the character visits the dentist. Hint: Sometimes less is more! Don't go into too much detail or use adjectives like "scraping," "drilling," or "sharp," since they might exacerbate rather than alleviate anxiety;

Play dentist and patient with your child. Once your kid understands what the dentist will perform, you may switch roles as the dentist and the patient. Allow your child to count or examine your teeth. Encourage your youngster to play dentist with their dolls or toy animals. The more they practice, the more confident they will grow.