The "first visit" is a major milestone, and we're here to make it a great one. The Canadian Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (CAPD) recommends bringing your child to the dentist by age one, or within six months of their first tooth erupting—whichever comes first.
This early visit isn't about complex treatment. It's about prevention and establishing a "Dental Home". It allows our pediatric specialists to catch any potential concerns early, provide you with guidance on home care and teething, and—most importantly—begin a positive, lifelong relationship with your child.
We move at your child's pace and never rush, but a typical first visit takes about 30-45 minutes and follows these simple steps:
Our friendly front-desk team will greet you, review your forms, and answer any initial questions. We'll then give you and your child a quick, fun tour of the office to help them get comfortable.
You'll meet your child's dental assistant and doctor. We spend these first few minutes building rapport directly with your child, using fun language and showing them some of our "cool tools" to build their curiosity and trust.
This will be tailored to your child's age. For infants, this is often a "lap exam," where they sit on your lap facing you, while gently leaning back into the doctor's lap for the check-up. Older children can sit in the "big kid chair" (or on your lap, if they prefer!). We will gently count their teeth, check for cavities, examine their bite, and assess their gum health.
If your child is comfortable, we will perform a gentle cleaning and polishing using a special "tickle brush" and child-friendly flavored toothpaste. We'll also demonstrate proper brushing and flossing techniques.
We may apply a quick, safe, and effective fluoride varnish—we call it "tooth vitamins"—to strengthen their enamel and protect against cavities.
The doctor will discuss their findings with you, provide personalized oral hygiene and diet counseling, address any habits (like pacifier use), and answer all your questions. If any treatment is needed, we'll discuss a plan. Finally, we'll schedule your next 6-month check-up.
Our team is specially trained in pediatric dentistry, which includes child psychology and behavior guidance. We use proven techniques to build trust:
We tell your child what we're going to do in simple, fun terms. We show them the "tooth counter" or "Mr. Thirsty" (the suction tool). Only then do we gently do the action.
We celebrate every success! We use praise, high-fives, and encouragement to make your child feel proud of themselves.
We use a creative, non-threatening vocabulary. Teeth get a "sleepy shower" (anesthetic), cavities are "sugar bugs," and the drill is a "whistle brush."
If your child is not ready, we will not push. Building trust is always our first priority.
This is completely normal! Crying or being fussy is an age-appropriate way for a toddler to communicate in a new environment. We are experts at working with anxious children and will not be surprised or upset.
We will work with your child. We may slow down, try a different approach, or simply accomplish less on the first visit. The goal is to build trust. We will never force treatment or make your child feel unsafe.
We end every visit on a high note! Your child will be praised for their cooperation and get to pick a reward (like a sticker or small prize) from our "treasure chest." We'll help you schedule your next regular 6-month appointment and send you home with a smile.