Children are such an important part of our Ventura County Orthodontics family! As you already know, they think and feel differently than grown-ups, but we love to see their excitement for orthodontic treatment. Many parents and guardians worry about their little ones and how they’ll handle their first visit to see us, so we will teach you how to prepare your child for their first orthodontic visit to see us.
The Importance of Education
One thing about kids is that they absorb new knowledge like a sponge. For this reason, setting expectations prior to any new doctor visit is so important! Here are a few key statements that can be a great starting point for parents who aren’t sure what to say or for those who have children with pre-existing medical anxiety:
- Relatable:
- What to Say: “Your body stays healthy with exercise and eating good food, right? Well, your teeth are just like that! We’re going to make them nice and healthy.”
- Simple:
- What to Say: “Orthodontists are special dentists who focus on making smiles straight, healthy, and beautiful! They’re the very best at this!”
- Beneficial:
- What to Say: “Getting braces can solve some problems you might have with your smile and make them better. It takes some time, but it’s worth it!”
Tips of the Trade
Preparing your child for their very first visit to one of our offices can be overwhelming, but we have lots of amazing suggestions for making that process easier—pleasant, even!
- “Tour” the Office: You can take a spin digitally, around a couple of our offices on our website! Check out these photo libraries from Oxnard and Santa Paula. Kids love visual media, and this can remove some of the mystery they may have of visiting one of our practices.
- Describe What Happens: Initial appointments can include diagnostics like x-rays or digital scans being taken. Telling them about these processes can help them have confidence going in, and assure them it’s nothing to be afraid of.
- Explain the Purpose: Before you arrive, let them know if they’ll be seeing Dr. Hodges, Dr. Lee, or Dr. Mullen. You can explain that their doctor’s purpose is to check out their teeth and create a special plan to help make their smile the very best it can be.
- Watch Educational Videos: We highly recommend exploring the web for some fun videos about orthodontic offices and braces, which can effectively engage and educate your kids. Presenting this information to them in a similar media format that they’re used to can go a long way.
- Bring a Comfort Item: Bringing along a familiar stuffed animal, toy, blanket, or other comfort items can often help kids relax during their appointment. These comfort items provide them with company in the waiting room as well.
- Stay Positive: Be mindful of using positive language when talking about Ventura County Orthodontics. Remind them that this will be an exciting first visit, where they will get to learn lots of new things! To help put them at ease, try to avoid discussing pain or discomfort ahead of their appointment.
- Establish Good Oral Hygiene: Great oral health is integral to successful orthodontic treatment. In the weeks leading up to your visit, emphasize good dental habits, especially if your child has had challenges with them in the past.
- Prepare for Questions: We recommend being honest in your responses to questions about braces, reminding kids that our team is also here to answer all of their questions. No question is a dumb one! It’s also good to remind them that they’re at the very start of a longer process, but that it will all turn out well in the end!
- A Team Effort: Meeting strangers can be scary at first for children, but each member of our practice is completely on their side! Orthodontic treatment is a collaboration between the young patient, the parent, the doctor, and even their dentist. This reminder can be great for kids who love sports—it’s a team effort!
- Plan Something Fun After the Visit: A trip to the park, movie or tablet time, or some other activity can be a great reward and incentive for young patients. It gives them something to look forward to after their successful visit with us.
Feel free to ask our office team for more ideas if you feel you’re at a loss. We’re here to support you and make your first appointment as easy and happy as possible!
The Coolest Kids
We want to acknowledge that kids aren’t the only ones feeling pressure in this situation—parents feel it, too. But we hope you’ll trust us when we say that Ventura County Orthodontics is the very best source for your child’s orthodontic treatment. We have four awesome locations in Oxnard, Santa Paula, Moorpark, and Newbury Park.