It isn’t uncommon for children to be intimidated by or hesitant of new experiences. They might be nervous when someone they are still becoming acquainted with tries to put unfamiliar dental equipment in their mouth. That isn’t to say that there aren’t good ways to combat this feeling. Some children carry this apprehension into adulthood. Confronting this fear at the outset is the best possible way to prevent this anxiety before it becomes ingrained. The following are some helpful tips that just may prevent your child from experiencing fear when going to the dentist.

It is extremely important to establish dental care for your child early on. Introducing your child to their future dentist at an early age will allow them to become more comfortable with the dental staff as well as create a familiarity with the office. This will give your child the understanding that everyone goes to the dentist. A trip to the dental office is a normal experience that is part of having good oral health. Fears of the dentist office often disappear as your child is more and more exposed to the environment. Therefore, it is imperative that your child visit the dentist from an early age in order to prevent any potential anxiety they may have related to dentistry.

When speaking with your child about a future dental trip, be informative and positive. In addition, make sure to avoid any words that could cause fear. You want your child to view the dentist as someone who they can trust. Talk to your child in a positive manner about how excited you are personally to go to the dentist. Don’t include too many technical details when discussing the upcoming trip to the dentist. This may create increased anxiety and result in more questions. Tell your child that going to the dentist is similar to going to the doctor in that both our bodies and teeth need checkups to maintain our overall health.

It is possible that your child might whine, move around, or cry when the assistants and the dentist begin the initial examination. If this happens, your initial reaction may be to intervene in order to assure that your child is calm or to encourage them. Make sure that before doing this you check in with the dentist and the dental staff for direction. They should be able to handle the situation with professionalism. This will also assure that your child begins to trust the dentist and allow them to provide proper dental care.

If your child is anxious about a trip to the dentist, a reward after a successful trip might be something to consider. This reward could be something like a toy or something as simple as allowing them to participate in one of their favorite activities. By offering your child a reward, you are associating the idea of a trip to the dentist with something positive that they enjoy. This can go a long way in making future trips to the dentist a pleasant experience.

Many people can get past anxiety without any help from others. However, you should not assume that this is always the case with your child. There are a number of factors that may cause your child to be nervous before a trip to the dentist. Addressing these fears at the onset by using the tips listed here will allow your child to understand the importance of regular trips to the dentist and oral hygiene overall.

If your child appears to be nervous or scared about coming to our office, bring them by prior to the appointment for a visit. We will give them a tour of the office. It will be a good opportunity to meet the staff and familiarize themselves with the office.

Do you have additional tips about making your child’s trip to the dentist office stress-free? Share them with us on our Facebook Page!

It is important that your child understand the WHY of the trip to the dentist. Why does he or she need to go to the dentist? This can be difficult to convey to a child at times. However, the better you can explain that the dentist is here to provide protection to healthy teeth and fix unhealthy teeth, the easier the trip to the dentist will be. It is the job of your dentist to make sure that your child’s smile is vibrant and strong throughout life. Highlighting the importance of good oral hyenine is very helpful when trying to achieve this goal.

Reading Books and watching videos is an excellent way to prepare your child for a trip to the dentist. A few of our favorites are:

• The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist, by Stan Berenstain, Jan Berenstain (https://www.amazon.com/Berenstain-Bears-Visit-Dentist/dp/0394848365/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=bernstein+bears+dentist&qid=1620845590&sr=8-1)
• If The Dentist Were An Animal, Rachel Grider RDH (https://www.amazon.com/Dentist-Were-Animal-Rachel-Grider/dp/1732156808/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=kids+dentist+book&qid=1620845698&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzMThUVlNLSjFEOTFVJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMDI2NTQxQVFVME9aRlhNTDZDJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA4MjczMzVMRlc2Q0ZMWFFRVFYmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl)
• Daniel Goes to the Dentist, Alexandra Cassel Schwartz, Jason Fruchter (https://www.amazon.com/Daniel-Goes-Dentist-Tigers-Neighborhood/dp/1534449094/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=kids+dentist+book&qid=1620845698&sr=8-3)
• Dentist Trip, Scholastic (https://www.amazon.com/Dentist-Trip-Peppa-Pig-Scholastic/dp/0545891469/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=kids+dentist+book&qid=1620845698&sr=8-5)
• Just Going to the Dentists, Mercer Mayer (https://www.amazon.com/Dentist-Little-Critter-Golden-Look-Look/dp/0307125831/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=kids+dentist+book&qid=1620845698&sr=8-8)

Pretending and play is a great way to get your child prepared for and used to a trip to the dentist. You can use stuffed animals and take turns pretending to be a dentist, allowing them to use a toothbrush to clean the teeth of the stuffed animal. You could also be the patient yourself and let your child brush your teeth for fun. These types of activities will allow your child to understand what to expect at the dentist while also having fun.