Part 4

First Dental Visit

1
 First Dental Visit
The primary function of a dentist is to provide dental care both
preventive and curative in away that to build up positive attitude in the
child‘s (patient) to ward dentistry.
This approach begins from the child‘s first visit which should be
“introductory”.

2
3
 Some factors important to have a
successful child-dentist relationship:-
1-Preappointment control: a preappointment communication
describing what the dentist is planning to accomplish for the child is effective
in:-
a-lowring the parents anxiety and
b-helpful in preparing their child for the first dental visit
2-Time and length of appointment:
a- The time of the appointment should not be at the child‘s nap time.
b- Early appointment for young children usually result in a better behavior
when the child has not been exhausted
c- The length of the first visit should be relatively short (15-20 minutes)

4
 3-Reception and Waiting room:-
a- An attractive and comfortable reception environment should be
designed for both children an parents.
b- Keep sure there the are no frighteing items on view that could
threaten the newcomer
c- The waiting room should be far from operating room so that the
behavior of the child waiting for his appointment is not affected by
what he might hear.
d- Every member of dental staff should be sensitive to his
appearance, facial expression‘s, movement, and his voice.
e- Social history and general information in a friendly of cheerful
way is taken.

5
4- The dentist consultation room:-
a- The dentist should be sensitive to his apperance, facial expression
and his voice.
b- Essential to show interest in the child environment \The child first
name, nick name, asking about school, friends, dolls, child interest,
and activity in a friendly of cheerful way with physical communication
(shaking hands or patting on child shoulder particularly for the
mentally retarded.
c- Praise the good behavior and ignore the bad one .
e- Obtain adequate history.
f- Encourage dental health care.
g- Ask the parents about their main concern and answers any questions
that might be raised by the child or parent.

6
5- Accompanying the child into the operatory:-
a- The assistant and or the dentist accompany the child to the treatment room.
Some dentist prefer that the child be separated from his parent in the dental
operatory. The dentist must decide whether to separate child and parent, this
based on the:-
-Age of the child
-Behavior of he child
-The character of the parent
b- The dentist should never show anger or loosing temper, but he must look to
master all conditions.
c- Avoid fear promoting factor.
d- Call the child with his first name or nikname.
e- Avoid sudden jerky movement
f- Give attention to the child feeling.

7
6- Examination and recording:-
a- If the child is unwilling to sit on chair, he could be placed in his parent‘s lap
in the dental chair, with the head supported on the parent‘s arm.
b- A good approach for the dentist is to ask “how many teeth do you have?”
and to suggest “counting them”
c- The dentist can proceed with counting the teeth “aloud”. In this manner, the
child will realize that there is nothing traumatic about the examination.
d- This initial examination may not be very detailed.
e- Further details can be obtained and recorded during successive visits.
f- During examination sight of a short pointed instrument and the careless use
of a probe must be avoided.

8
7- Introducing treatment:-
a- A simple operative procedure can be preformed, if the child has not
presented with pain, the treatment should be simple for example:-
-polishing the teeth using a soft brush or rapper cap.
-simple palliative treatment if necessary
-taking radiographs.
-topical fluoride treatment.
b- The tell-show-Do method is very effect at the stage.
c- Operative treatment involving injections or cavity preparation is not started
during the first visit, until the child‘s confidence has been obtained.
d- By the end of the first visit, the dentist can clearly assess the child stage of
behavioral growth, decide on management technique and record the
parent‘s reaction to the child‘s dental care.
e- At the end of the visit praise the child‘s positive behavior and neglect any
negative behavior he has shown during the dental visit.
f- Prepare the child for the next visit by telling him in a simple way what is to be
accomplished in the successive visit
9
g- Before dismissing the child, the dentist should give the parent a brief
explanation of the treatment required.
h- It should be emphasized that attention to reparative treatment only is of little
long term benefit and that prevention of further dental diseases is an
important aim.
i- It may be convenient to request that the child‘s brush be brought at the next
visit.
j- Finally give the parents an estimate of the number of visits that will be
required to complete treatment.

10
Recall visit:-
If the child has been properly managed and handled
during the first dental visit and a logical treatment plan has
been set, usually the recall visits will proceed smoothly.
Emergency visit:-
Un fortunately, children are often first taken to a dentist in
pain and the previously mentioned introduction may not be
possible so:-
a- If the child is cooperative immediate treatment can be given
not requiring any specific management techniques.
b- If the child is showing disruptive behavior some restraint
may be necessary to accomplish treatment.

11
12