Dentists are in the business of maintaining and fixing people’s smiles. Whether it be a simple restorative filling or root canal treatment or a brand new crown, most patients are a little nervous visiting their dentist. That’s the importance of starting dental visits from a very young age.
Most kids arrive for their first time from the age of four years old. From that age the primary teeth can be polished, which is painless, and it gets the child acclimatised to the workings of the dental rooms. These regular visits help establish a good relationship between the child and dentist and help prevent anxiety for future treatment and ‘fear’ of the dentist.
We need to encourage our young kids, and their parents to start regular dental visits early to help educate them on the importance of good oral care, as well as alleviate future dental anxiety, which is worse. Once afraid, patients can sometimes wait too long to do anything for their teeth – and when they finally seek treatment it is too late for the dentist to help.
Prevention is always better than cure – if a patient can spend their hard-earned money on a vacation rather than a new bridge because of a rotten tooth, then the world might just be a better place!
Dance like nobody is watching and smile like everyone is watching!
By Dr Priyesh Makanjee, Makanjee Dental Care