CAMBRIDGE DENTAL PRACTICE. CAMBRIDGE DENTAL PRACTICE INAUGURAL VISIT Dr Rosalind Peart On the theme of young children we were very privileged to have a visit from a very young lady this week. She arrived with Mum and Dad, appropriately dressed for a first dental visit in a beautiful yellow spotted dress and an enquiring look in her big blue eyes. We all toddled off down to the treatment room where she sat on Mum's lap in the dental chair and had a play. The chair moved up and down, we changed the light colours and shone it on her face, we squirted water and air out of different bit's of equipment, took photographs and finally had a wee look in her mouth with a mirror. By which time she was just as a familiarisation with the environment is so much better than arriving for the first time because there is pain involved. We forget how daunting the space can be especially for young children. It smells bad, there are bright lights, everything is shiny and hard and there are unfamiliar and not very pleasant sounds going on. By rolling up once every 6 months or so and having it be a usual, non-stressful event it becomes just another good habit that children can learn and carry with them their whole lives. In the event some dental treatment is actually required children who are in this habit cope very well. They are in a safe, familiar environment with people they know and trust. It makes things so much easier for everyone. And just a litte add on. If you are an anxious dental patient send them along with someone else. Children This little exercise took no more than 10 minutes by which time our young patient are super smart and will pick up on your anxiety no matter how much you try to hide it. I often find grandparents and father's can be more relaxed than mother's. We're just that much more emotionally connected I think. All in all, these can be fun outings that have a great long term influence on a person's lifetime dental experience. And we get to have a giggle and some light relief in our day also. wielding her own mirror and assisting me most ably had checked out everything to her satisfaction and left with her Dad giving us a cheery smile and a wave as she went. The highlight of my day I can tell you. People ask when they should first take their child to the dentist and generally anytime from 2 years old it's a worthwhile process. To begin one's dental experience 9A Anzac Street I (Opposite New World) I Tel: 07 8275079 I www.cambridgedental.co.nz CAMBRIDGE DENTAL PRACTICE. CAMBRIDGE DENTAL PRACTICE INAUGURAL VISIT Dr Rosalind Peart On the theme of young children we were very privileged to have a visit from a very young lady this week. She arrived with Mum and Dad, appropriately dressed for a first dental visit in a beautiful yellow spotted dress and an enquiring look in her big blue eyes. We all toddled off down to the treatment room where she sat on Mum's lap in the dental chair and had a play. The chair moved up and down, we changed the light colours and shone it on her face, we squirted water and air out of different bit's of equipment, took photographs and finally had a wee look in her mouth with a mirror. By which time she was just as a familiarisation with the environment is so much better than arriving for the first time because there is pain involved. We forget how daunting the space can be especially for young children. It smells bad, there are bright lights, everything is shiny and hard and there are unfamiliar and not very pleasant sounds going on. By rolling up once every 6 months or so and having it be a usual, non-stressful event it becomes just another good habit that children can learn and carry with them their whole lives. In the event some dental treatment is actually required children who are in this habit cope very well. They are in a safe, familiar environment with people they know and trust. It makes things so much easier for everyone. And just a litte add on. If you are an anxious dental patient send them along with someone else. Children This little exercise took no more than 10 minutes by which time our young patient are super smart and will pick up on your anxiety no matter how much you try to hide it. I often find grandparents and father's can be more relaxed than mother's. We're just that much more emotionally connected I think. All in all, these can be fun outings that have a great long term influence on a person's lifetime dental experience. And we get to have a giggle and some light relief in our day also. wielding her own mirror and assisting me most ably had checked out everything to her satisfaction and left with her Dad giving us a cheery smile and a wave as she went. The highlight of my day I can tell you. People ask when they should first take their child to the dentist and generally anytime from 2 years old it's a worthwhile process. To begin one's dental experience 9A Anzac Street I (Opposite New World) I Tel: 07 8275079 I www.cambridgedental.co.nz