A child’s first dental visit sets the tone for decades. Get it right and the dentist becomes a normal, even fun, part of life. Get it wrong and you can spend years undoing the fear.
When to come
Around age two is ideal — and definitely before the adult teeth start arriving at about age six. Early visits are short and gentle: a ride in the chair, counting teeth, a sticker at the end. The goal is familiarity, not treatment.
The words matter
Kids take their cues from you. What helps:
- Keep it matter-of-fact and positive — “the dentist is going to count your teeth.”
- Let them watch a favourite character’s dentist episode beforehand.
- Avoid the words hurt, needle and brave — even “it won’t hurt” plants the idea that it might.
Should you stay in the room?
For children under six, yes — your presence is reassuring. Many older kids actually do better without a parent watching, and we’ll guide you on what’s working on the day.
It may cost you nothing
Eligible children aged 0–17 can receive up to $1,158 of dental care over two consecutive calendar years under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule when their benefit period starts in 2026. We bulk bill covered services while benefits remain, including check-ups, cleans, x-rays, fillings and more. Call us and we’ll check your child’s eligibility before you book.
