Fear of the unknown can have a negative impact on a child’s feelings toward their dental visits. Ensuring that your child is familiar with the dental practice and the people that are going to help them keep their smile healthy will ease their fears and make the dental visit go smoothly.
- Visit the dentist with your child prior to their first appointment. Help your child understand what to expect on their visit by taking a tour of the practice and asking the dental assistant or dental hygienist to explain what will be done and demonstrate how each instrument will be used. Not only will this help ease your child’s fears, but it also creates a wonderful learning opportunity!
- For slightly order children, bring them along to observe your routine dental cleaning and exam. This will allow them to ask questions, see how each instrument will be used, eliminate potential fears by observing your experience and help them understand the importance of practicing good oral health behaviors. (Contact your dental office prior to your appointment to advise them that your child will be with you.)
- Regular dental visits will enable your child to develop a sense of familiarity and comfort with the dental team and practice as well provide vital preventive care necessary for a healthy smile.
- Reinforcing concepts such as daily brushing and flossing, by posting a calendar and rewarding your child a gold star or sticker for every day of excellent oral care. Help get your child excited about their next dental visit by bringing the calendar with you to show the dentist.
- Allow your child to bring their favorite toy or blanket with them on their dental visit to give them an added sense of security and comfort.
- Reading can have a soothing and calming effect on your child. Bring their favorite book to read to them during their dental appointment.
- Let your child wear a costume on their dental visit. This special treat can help them view going to the dentist as a fun activity.
Be positive about going to the dentist. Avoid grumbling about your own dental appointments and help your child understand that going to the dentist helps them keep their smiles healthy! This is important because after all, the ToothFairy likes to collect healthy teeth!
The ideas of having the child meet the dentist on a different day and having him/her wear a costume are bothe wonderful tips. My children were quite good about going to the dentist. I am the one who is still terrified!!
I never thought about having them wear a costume. This would not only add to the fun but it might help them have added confidence by wearing the disguise. To get kids to brush their teeth, fun timers and brushes are available. Have your children meet their dentist on a different day than their appointment to give them a nonthreatening, comfortable environment.