If you’re a parent who feels at a loss ahead of your child’s first orthodontic consultation, you’re not alone! We’re pleased to inform you that at Glass Orthodontics, we partner with you well before you meet us in person. Our team will tell you how to prepare for your child’s first orthodontic appointment.
Exceptional Expectations
One underutilized tool for parents is our fantastic website. This is your source for tons of visual references that can help kids feel more familiar with our practice before they meet us. Here are some ways to use it to your advantage:
- Dr. Glass and Friends: Check out the profile of Dr. Glass and the members of our team. Knowing what people look like can help kids feel comfortable meeting them.
- Office Tours: We’re so lucky to have four offices in our practice, and have our gorgeous spaces in Daphne, Bay Minette, Atmore, and Brewton.
- Before & Afters: It can help kids to know about the magic of orthodontics—the incredible level of transformation that can be accomplished under our care, we have a whole gallery showing how our patients’ smiles changed with orthodontic treatment.
Our team also encourages you to step into your nearest office with your child before their appointment to help them get their bearings. Just let us know if you want to arrange a time to stop by.
A Vital First Visit
So, how can you help make your child’s first experience at Glass Orthodontics the best it can be? There are many things you can do ahead of time to set them up for success, many of which revolve around education.
- Questions are Welcome: Children are relentlessly curious, and we embrace that in our practice! No question is a bad question. Encourage your child to write down any questions they have for Dr. Glass before their first appointment. Our team is happy to provide answers and help them feel at ease.
- Age-Appropriate Answers: Tailor your explanations to your child’s level of understanding. Younger kids can respond better to playful descriptions and analogies, while older children can appreciate more transparent details.
- Use Visual Media: One benefit of the Internet is that it’s full of creatively crafted videos and blogs that can help inform your child about orthodontics long before they meet us. Books and storytelling are also helpful.
- A Big Moment: Frame the visit as a positive step forward—an exciting milestone to be proud of! Visiting the orthodontist is part of giving them a healthy smile they can be proud of for the rest of their lives.
- Share Success Stories: If you know someone who has had or is currently undergoing orthodontic treatment, share their success story with your child. Seeing a family member or friend with braces can make the experience feel more familiar and less intimidating.
- Set the Scene: Remind your child that we will not give them braces during their first appointment—far from it! We use this time to assess the state of their smile and start to plan the next steps, which could include braces.
- A Rewarding Experience: Positive reinforcement can be helpful after your first visit, whether that’s giving your child a toy or treat or taking them to do something fun. This could also become a regular routine for future visits.
FAQs
We’d like to round off this blog by covering several questions that we hear all the time from parents as they try to plan their child’s first appointment:
Q: What if my child has a fear of dental appointments?
First of all, a lot of kids do. It’s completely natural to be nervous about a new doctor, but there are ways to ease this anxiety. One tool we suggest is bringing along a comfort item like a stuffed animal or blanket to the appointment. Also, be sure to let us know so that we can accommodate them to the best of our ability.
Q: Is my child too young for orthodontic treatment?
Dr. Glass begins seeing children for early interceptive treatment (Phase One Treatment) around age 7 or 8. This allows us to address issues like severe crowding or bite misalignment early, before all the permanent teeth have erupted and while the jaw is more malleable. Full braces often start around ages 11 or 12.
Q: Does my child need to do anything before their visit?
The best thing they can do is clean their teeth well! This actually saves us some time and lets Dr. Glass assess their smiles clearly.
Smooth Sailing!
It takes a special group of people to embrace orthodontic care in kids—and we are that group of people! We feel very lucky to be able to impact your child’s smile, and we guarantee that they’ll be thrilled with the results. Please reach out to one of our offices to schedule your first appointment!