Question: My child is three and is going to the dentist for the first time what can I do to make it less scary for her.

Answer:  Since your child is old enough to understand about going to the dentist, there are several things you can do to ease any anxiety she may have.  Such as:

* Give her a sneak peek. Take her with you to your next checkup to get her used to the sights and sounds, and let her watch you as you have your mouth check and or teeth cleaned. She will see that though the tooth polisher is noisy, it does not hurt.

* Make sure to choose a kid-friendly dentist. Pediatric dentists are trained in child development and understand how to make kids comfortable. Besides having an upbeat, patient manner, the dentist should add kid-friendly elements to the exam. Some provide sunglasses to block out the bright examining lights and toys to keep their minds off their mouths. Others use puppets to teach proper brushing, and offer post-exam treats like stickers. Ask your pediatrician for a referral.

* Make sure book the denal appointment at a time when you and your child are well rested. If you need to rush back to work or she is tired, the visit will be off to a bad start before you even arrive.