February 2014
SanTan
FAMILY FUN “An award-winning publication” A publication of the
SanTan Sun News
What’s Inside: February
Pages 2-4 SanTan Family Fun Calendar
Page 6 Spring Break Fun
Page 8 City of Chandler Spring Recreation Activities For info on sponsoring the SanTan Family Fun Calendar, email Ads@SanTanSun.com
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Preparing children for their first trip to the dentist By Alison Stanton
As most parents know quite well, taking children to their first dental appointment can be a memorable experience. However, they want to do whatever they can to make sure the experience is a positive one for the kiddos. For toddlers who are headed to the dentist for the first time, Dr. Rassa Abdoll, a dentist at Kids Dental Center in Chandler, suggests that parents read books to them about the subject. is a way to show that they are growing up.” and really seems to help,” “This approach seems to Parents should also do their best to she says. work really well,” Abdoll says. keep any of their own fears of going to Abdoll also suggests that His clinic’s website, kidsthe dentist out of the conversations they parents visit his practice’s dentalcenter.com, contains a are having with their young children, website prior to their printable coloring book that Douglas says. children’s first appointment parents can personalize. AVOID OVER-PREPARING: “Tell them it’s a fun place to go, so they can see what the “Let them know that we talk about the importance of brushing, office looks like. will brush their teeth, we will When parents spend too much time preparing their as opposed to ‘You have to go to the “Parents can say, keep it simple and brief, and children for their first trips dentist and it will hurt.’” ‘Hey, look at this cool stuff they will get prizes at the to the dentist, it can often backfire and cause the kids that they have there, and look When the appointment is over, end,” he says. Philipp suggests that the parents give Dr. Hilarry Douglas, a den- to be even more nervous, at the games that they have says Dr. Rassa Abdoll. their children a prize. for you to play while you are tist who practices in Chandler, Submitted photo “Just don't make a big deal out of it. there,’” he says. says the Chandler Public You go to the dentist just like you do He also encourages parents to Library is an outstanding source anything else, like go to school accompany their children to of books on the subject. or go to soccer practice,” the exam room and to stay “They have a he says. with them during the great section of “Children who go to the appointment. dental books for dentist regularly have fewer “Let your child know that kids that talk cavities and need less dentistry you will be there for them. about the first throughout their lifetime so visit, and many of We believe that having it is extremely important for parents in the room helps them feature colmom and dad to start their to reduce anxiety and ored photos of children off right.” nervousness.” kids sitting in the If children have questions dental chair.” Alison Stanton is a freelance about what will happen Children can LET KIDS WATCH MOM AND writer who lives in the East during the appointment, get a taste of a DAD: Dr. Justin Philipp says SHINE A LIGHT: Dr. Hilarry Valley. She can be reached at Abdoll says parents should dental exam by parents should allow their Douglas says that shining a alison@santansun.com. do their best to answer them accompanying young children to accomflashlight into their child’s their parents to an “honestly, but not too pany them to their own mouth can help parents dental appointments, prepare him or her for the appointment durspecifically.” so that they can see for dental light used at the “Don’t use words like ing which X-rays themselves that visiting the office. Submitted photo ‘shot,’ ‘pull,’ ‘drill’ or ‘hurt,’” dentist is nothing to worry are taken and he says. teeth are cleaned. about. Submitted photo In most cases, the first This will show them that there’s nothing appointment will involve about to be nervous about, says Dr. Justin 20 to 25 minutes of chair time. Philipp, a dentist at J. Philipp Family Resources “Tell your child that it is really so and Cosmetic Dentistry in Chandler. Websites: easy. We will count their teeth and “I have found when parents do this • parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/health/ polish their teeth and do an X-ray with the child wants to do it, too; they will teething/child-first-trip-to-dentist a film that goes in their mouth. try to climb in the chair and have their • whattoexpect.com/toddler-health/ Really try to leave it at that.” teeth looked at.” child-first-dental-visit.aspx And although older brothers and sisAnother way parents can prepare ters might want to try to be helpful and their children for the first dental Books: tell their siblings about what to expect, appointment, Douglas says, is by play• “My First Trip to the Dentist Abdoll says parents should not allow fully shining a flashlight into the child’s (My First Adventures),” by Katie Kawa them to discuss any experiences they mouth. • “The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist,” have had with cavities or shots. This “This mimics the dental light that we by Stan and Jan Berenstain tends to backfire, he says. use. It can be intimidating for some kids • “An Amazing Journey Inside My Mouth. “The best thing parents can do is to to lie back and have a light shown in Just Me and My Dentist. A Kids Book not overprepare their child,” he says. their face, and doing this at home ahead About Their First Trip to the Dentist,” “Tell your child that going to the dentist of time helps to take the fear out of this by Maura Kempa