1.
Don’t
Say the “H” word
“Don’t worry Honey; going to the Dentist
doesn’t hurt.” While this seems like a
helpful statement, your child is thinking, ‘Hurt?! I didn’t even know that was a possibility!’ Queue your child’s anxiety of the unknown,
which now they are told could ‘hurt’.
Children are blank slates when it comes to
the Dentist, they don’t know what to expect.
Please don’t put the possibility of a hurtful experience in their heads. No one can predict how your child will feel
regarding a dental procedure. We have
had a 3 year old fall asleep during fillings and kids that need giggle
breaks. Your child may surprise you!
2 Prep-‘Em
Positive talk prior to the visit is
helpful. Saying things like “The Dentist
is fun!” or “When I get my teeth cleaned it tickles.” Or “I just had a filling
done at the Dentist; it felt kind of bumpy or buzzy.” Little things such as: explaining the dental
chair goes up and down; telling your child that a light shines in their dark
mouth or that a tiny straw sucks up water like a vacuum can all prepare and help
your child have an idea of where they are going and what they will see. Also, consider checking our a book about going to the dentist!
3.
Stop
the Horror Stories
Too often we hear Moms and Dads tell their
child their dental horror stories. This
in no way will reassure your child and may end up scaring them more. It is more effective, to explain what a
filling is or how a tooth is removed by using facts. If you are unsure of how the procedure will
work for your child, ask us! We have fun
ways of showing you and your child and how a filling is placed or how a tooth
is removed.
4.
Empower
Them
Perhaps your child will be more cooperative
if Mom or Dad is not around them during the dental procedure. We all know that kids act differently when
not around their parents. They may look
to you to get them out of the situation, by acting out or being uncooperative. If your child comes into the dental chair
alone, you are allowing them to become accountable for their own teeth. Often they finish the procedure feeling brave
and proud that they did this all by themselves.
5.
Consider
Laughing
You know your child best. Is he super nervous about this despite all
your best efforts? Consider using
Laughing Gas. Laughing Gas is very safe
and used often in the dental office. In
fact, we use it on our own children. It
creates a state of happiness and relaxes the child. It’s especially effective if this is your
child’s first dental experience. We want
initial dental encounters to be positive, to ensure a lifelong positive dental
relationship. If Laughing Gas is the
vehicle for that, then it’s worth a try.
6.
Reward
We of course have a prize bucket, but a
little extra reward from Mom and Dad always helps.