6 Things You Can Do to Help Your Child When They Need Dental Work

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.