Preparing your Child for the Dentist

As a parent, we understand that you are dedicated to your child and want what’s best for them. Sometimes, however, parents can be too honest with their children especially when it has to do with their dental treatment. In doing so, this can cause children to become fearful and anxious prior to their dental appointment. We will discuss a ideas to help prepare both you and your child for their dental exam and treatment. The idea is to help your child stay calm and relaxed, so let’s talk about ways you can help prepare them for their big day at our office.

Start Visiting Early and Regularly

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends kids have their first dentist visit no later than their first birthday. These early appointments are important for making sure your child’s smile is healthy and their oral development is on track. Yet, another big benefit is that going to the dentist young lets kids get comfortable and develop a rapport with the practice, making future visits a breeze. Most importantly at this age, it allows your child to develop a relationship with the dentist and get used to the office, so they feel comfortable. We slowly introduce them to things like dental instruments over time, which decreases anxiety. By the time your child is a toddler, visiting the dentist will be routine and they’ll know what to expect. Starting off with easy, breezy exams and cleanings can build strong, positive experiences for your child to associate coming to the dentist as a positive experience.

Think Positive, Be Positive :)

We know going to the dentist for the first time can be a little scary. Even adults get nervous about the prospect sometimes! For the kids, a lot of this is just a fear of the unknown. Studies have shown that parents can pass their dental anxiety on to their children. So, even if you aren’t a huge fan of the dentist, don’t let it show in front of your child. Try to avoid talking about any bad experiences or impending procedures you or your child have coming up. Always chat about the dentist in positive terms. When you accompany your child to their visits, take a deep breath, keep things upbeat and try your best to appear happy. Emotions are contagious and can be transmissible from one parent's appearance, words, and tone of voice to the child. So it is very important for us to try promote positivity.

Talk Positive :)

When kids (or grown-ups) don’t know what to expect, sometimes, the imagination can run wild and not in a good way. That’s why we don’t recommend that parents tell their child about the first dentist appointment too far in advance. It can lead to a lot of anxiety. It’s not a great idea to completely surprise them either and just show up at the dentist without warning. Letting them know about the visit on the morning of the appointment is the best bet. Tell them that a nice tooth doctor will be counting their teeth and showing them how to keep their smile strong and healthy. Answer questions they have but don’t go into too much detail and avoid using words like “drill,” “pain,” “shot,” “needle” or “hurt.” Try using alternative kid-friendly words that have positive connotations over words that are usually associated with negative experiences. For instance, instead of saying liquid "medicine," we can say "juice." Using the word "medicine" can scare the child into refusing to drink the "juice."

Entertain and Learn

Watch Videos or Read Books About Going to the Dentist – Reading books about the experience is excellent for preparing your child for the dentist. They can learn all about how their favorite characters had an amazing time at the tooth doctor and see that nothing bad happens at checkups. A few of our favorites include Just Going to the Dentist by Mercer Mayer, What to Expect When You Go to the Dentist by Laura Rader, Dentist Trip (Peppa Pig) by Scholastic, Curious George Visits the Dentist by H.A. Rey andThe Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist by Stan and Jan Berenstain. There are also a ton of videos on YouTube you can uncover with a quick search aimed at addressing children’s fears of the dentist and breaking down what happens at the first visit.

Play Doctor – Preparing your child for the dentist and addressing their fears can be as simple as playing a game of pretend. Get out their toothbrush and pretend to be the dentist. Act out what will happen at the visit, including having them sit in a chair, counting their teeth and brushing and flossing. Then, let them play dentist. You or a stuffed animal can take on the role of the patient. Giving them an idea of what to expect and introducing them to the idea of a dental visit in an environment where they feel comfortable helps get rid of some of the unknowns.

Schedule Wisely

Sometimes, dental anxiety in children isn’t actually really dental anxiety but the result of a child facing a new scenario when they’re tired, hungry or already over-stimulated. Schedule your appointment when your little one tends to be most cooperative and happiest, like after their daily nap or in the morning following a full night’s sleep and a good breakfast.

Positive Reinforcement :)

By positive reinforcement, we don’t mean bribing kids or offering them candy if they get through a dental visit without crying or squirming. Kids are smart and this tactic will make them wonder what’s so wrong with the dentist that you’re expecting them to cry and squirm. However, if your son or daughter is scared of the dentist, praise them after their appointment for being brave and taking a step towards having a healthy smile. Reinforce all of the things they did really well at their visit and build up some warm and fuzzy feelings they’ll equate with conquering their fears.

If the visit doesn’t go as planned and say your child won’t open their mouth at the dentist, they cry or refuse to sit in the chair, resist the urge to scold them. Stay calm and just know pediatric dentists work with kids on a daily basis and we’re used to all kinds of reactions when they’re scared. After the visit, talk about why they acted out and what steps you can take together next time to prevent it from happening again.

All of these tips are meant to help with the normal anxiety and fear children often feel about dental visits. However, dental phobia in kids is more severe. It’s considered a phobia if it’s persistent, leads to avoidance and is out of proportion to the situation. True dental phobia in children is rare but if does happen. If your efforts to help your child overcome their anxiety aren’t successful and the fear seems extreme, ask your pediatric dentist for help. In some cases of dental phobia in kids, sedation dentistry or turning to a child psychologist could be an option.

We always meet our patients where they’re at and let them set the pace. We won’t rush your kiddo into treatment or do anything more than they can handle. We’ll work with you, whether your child is scared of the dentist or not, to help make sure your child is relaxed at their visits, learns all about oral health and gets the care they need to maintain a healthy, happy little smile. If you feel like your child needs a little more encouragement or you have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out and we’ll be more than happy to give you some more pointers.