A child going to the dentist for the first time is often full of anxiety. Any dentist, using the right techniques, can transform the most terrified child into a cooperative patient; a child who will leave the office with a smile on his face. 

The first thing a dentist must do, is convince the child of his honesty. Children are smart and are not easily fooled. If a youngster is promised that a particular thing will be done, the dentist had better be sure he does it. 

The dentist will usually begin with something easy like counting the childs teeth. After that,  he must count the teeth. Because this is a new experience for the child, he may cry even before anything is done. In the eyes of the child, the dentist must prove that he can be trusted to do exactly what he says he is going to do. The child will generally settle down after the first visit. If the dentist establishes his credibility and proves to the child that he is trustworthy, there will rarely be any more trouble.