How to Help Ease Your Child’s Fear of the Dentist
Posted on August 15, 2023
If your child is scared to visit the dentist, they’re not alone. Many children deal with dental anxiety at some point. In fact, dental anxiety can affect people of any age, including adults. Just because your child is anxious about the dentist, however, doesn’t mean you should skip these very important appointments. It’s recommended that children start visiting the dentist around age one and that they continue with regular dental visits throughout life, according to WebMD. Let’s look at some ways you can ease your child’s fear of the dentist.
Stay Consistent
Regular dental visits can be a powerful way to help your child get over their fear of the dentist. If you keep exposing your child to these appointments, over time they will start to realize there is nothing to fear. Allowing the child to avoid the appointments, however, helps to enforce their fear and cuts down on their opportunities to face their fear. Healthy emotional development will require that a child faces their fears occasionally, especially when it’s a fear of something that is necessary to health and wellbeing, which the dentist is.
Choose a Pediatric Dentist Office
It’s also helpful if you choose a dental office that is specifically designed for the needs of pediatric patients. These professionals are trained differently than conventional dentists and are uniquely equipped to meet the needs of younger patients. Pediatric dentists understand the unique needs of younger teeth and how care will affect a child’s oral health for years to come. They are also better qualified at dealing with the challenges that are often seen with younger patients as well.
Use Positive Reinforcement
It’s okay to use positive reinforcement to encourage your child to visit the dentist. You might use rewards or privileges to help them stay motivated on the day a dental visit is scheduled. Some ideas might be to arrange for the purchase of a new toy they’ve been wanting if they get through their visit successfully. You might consider adding extra screen time for the day they visit a pediatric dentist office or a visit to a fun place they enjoy afterward. connect the dentist to positive rewards and they may start seeing it differently.
Dental visits are crucial for proper oral, dental, and speech development in children. Use these tips to encourage your child to develop a good relationship with a pediatric dentist office. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment!
