May the first visit be a good memory
Fear of the dentist almost always starts in childhood. A first rough experience, a waiting room that overwhelms, someone who doesn't explain what they're going to do. That leaves a mark.
At Clínica Dental Sancho we work with children in a different way. With time, calmly, adapting each visit to their age and how they arrive that day. The goal isn't just to do a check-up — it's for the child to leave thinking the dentist isn't so bad.
Book your child's first visit — no rush, no fearLooking for a dentist for the adults in the family too? At the same clinic we do general dentistry for all ages.
Most parents ask us this. And the answer pediatric dentistry gives is: sooner than you think. Not to do treatments — but so the child gets familiar with the environment, so the mouth is monitored from the start and so the first visit isn't an emergency.
The general recommendation is to do the first visit around 2-3 years old, when the milk teeth have already come through. If there are doubts before that age —because of teething, a knock or because something doesn't seem normal— there's no need to wait.
At that first visit we don't do anything that makes the child uncomfortable. It's an exploratory, get-to-know-you visit: we look at the teeth, talk to the child about what they see in the clinic and explain to the parents how the mouth is and what to watch out for.
Not all dentists work with children in the same way. Here's how we do it:
If the child arrives nervous, we don't start straight away. We let them explore the clinic, touch the instruments if they want, get used to the environment. There's no rush. Every child has their own pace and we respect it.
We never do anything without telling them first. We tell them what they'll feel, how it will sound, what we'll put in their mouth. Children tolerate procedures much better when they know what's going to happen. Surprise is what creates fear.
We celebrate what's good, not just point out what needs improving. Positive reinforcement works much better than threats. If the mouth is well cared for, we say so. If there's something to improve in hygiene, we work on it with the child in a way they understand and want to do.
A child's dental health depends above all on what happens at home. That's why we take time to talk to the parents: when and how to brush the child's teeth, which foods are most harmful for milk teeth, how to manage habits like the dummy or the night-time bottle.
Yes. Milk teeth aren't disposable — they have very important functions: they allow chewing, speaking correctly and, above all, they hold the space for the permanent teeth. A cavity in a milk tooth that isn't treated can become infected, hurt a lot and affect the permanent tooth underneath.
It's more common than it seems. The most important thing is not to force it. Tell us when you book the appointment — that way we can prepare the visit in a particularly calm way. Sometimes a first visit doing absolutely nothing is enough for the child to get familiar with the environment.
The first orthodontic assessment can be done around 6-7 years old, when the first permanent teeth start to come through. At that visit we detect whether there are development patterns worth starting to treat early. It doesn't mean braces have to be fitted — only that we need to keep an eye out.
We tell you the price of the children's check-up and cleaning when you book. Treatments —if they're needed— are quoted in writing before starting. There are no surprises. Contact us for more information.
Dental habits are formed in childhood. A child who learns that the dentist isn't scary, who understands why they need to brush well and who keeps their check-ups up to date is far more likely to reach adulthood with a healthy mouth.
At Clínica Dental Sancho we have spent 35 years being the dentist for whole families in Barcelona. Some of our adult patients are children of patients who came here as kids. That tells us something.
