More people than you might think experience some degree of anxiety surrounding visits to the dentist. Not only is there the potential for pain that puts people off of going for their yearly cleaning, but the fear that something is wrong that needs a more invasive procedure to correct can also be overwhelming. Such anxiety isn’t reserved for adults, though.
Many kids have their own set of fears surrounding the dentist. While much of this stems from not understanding dental hygiene and care practices very well, a significant number of children see their parents nervous about seeing the dentist.
If your child is nervous about going to the dentist, here are a few things you can do to make them more comfortable and prepared for their checkup.
Find the Right Dentist
Different dental practices will specialize in different areas. Some are geared towards catering to adults who need particular procedures done while others are actually designed to be more family friendly. Such places work to create an environment that isn’t overwhelming for kids to enter.
Furthermore, how dentists in clearwater fl and hygienists approach the dental care of a child differs from that of an adult. They will explain the cleaning and check-up process step by step so that your child knows what to expect, and they will keep a calm and friendly demeanor throughout the visit.
Check out a dental practice that specializes in taking care of the whole family. You can easily find an Asheville dentist that will be able to give you more information and help provide your family with the dental care that they need.
Keep Certain Words Out of the Conversation
When you are preparing your child for a trip to the dentist, they will likely have some questions. This will be especially true if it is their first-ever visit to the dentist. While it is good to prepare them for what the visit will entail, there are a few words that you will want to make sure you don’t use.
Mentioning things like “pain” or “shots” can do much more harm than good. You child very well might experience some slight discomfort or even a bit of pain during their visit, depending on what the status of their dental hygiene is, but there is no need to give them a reason to be afraid before their visit. Instead, the dentist will know during the visit if pain is likely. If it is, he or she will know what to say to make sure your child stays calm.
Remain Calm
Children pick up so many behavioural cues from their parents. This goes for fear and anxiety, as well. If you are visibly anxious about going to the dentist, then you can expect them to follow suit. There are resources out there to help adults with dental anxiety too, so make sure to do what you need to calm your own fears so that your child can calm theirs as well.
Great tips on helping ease children’s anxiety about visiting the dentist!