Easing a Child’s Fear of the Dentist

Bright lights. Big chairs. Scary hats and gloves. A dentist’s chair can be a little frightening for children. It’s easy to understand why so many kids are afraid of the dentist. Unfortunately, it’s your job as a parent to help them conquer their fears, because if they don’t – it could have a permanent effect on their smiles. Regular check-ups can help your child avoid cavities and dental work – such as veneers later in life. Helping your child get over or even avoid a fear of the dentist is paramount for strong and healthy teeth as well as developing good dental habits. Here are some tips for parents:

Start ‘em Early!
Your child should see a dentist by the age of two. This seems young, but this is a good time to instill the importance of regular visits. The dentist will introduce your child to the office and show them the equipment in a non-scary way. In addition, the dentist will probably talk to your child about the proper way to brush and the importance of eating healthy. If you start taking your child to the dentist at an early age, they are less likely to be afraid and less likely to need expensive dental work like veneers later in life.

Bedtime Stories
Read books about visiting the dentist. And don’t only read about the tooth fairy! An easy way to prepare kids for the dentist is to read them books about visiting the dentist. Many popular children’s character have books that explain going to the dentist is easy and even fun.

Get Specialized
See a pediatric dentist. If you have tried taking your child to the dentist and the visit ended in tears, you might want to consider using a pediatric dentist. A pediatric dentist is specially trained to work with children and their needs.

Take Them with You
Take your child to the dentist with you. If you are going for a regular check up at your dentist, think about taking your child along to watch. You might want to reconsider this for lengthy procedures like getting veneers, but it’s usually okay for check ups. Speak to your dental office and make sure that is acceptable. Having your child watch you get a check up will help them to understand this is not a scary experience.

Pack Some Fun
Take a favorite toy. When it is time for your child to go visit the dentist, allow your child to bring along their favorite toy, doll or book. Having something that is familiar may help your child cope with the visit.

Just like adults, children need treatments and training for how to care for healthy teeth and gums. It’s regular check-ups that will set the groundwork to ensure children have healthy mouths when they grow up and hopefully reduce the need for extensive dental work and veneers to hide poorly cared-for teeth. Regular dental visits give the necessary preventative treatments to give your child the best chance of having a healthy adult mouth.

If you want to learn more about pediatric dentistry, contact your dentist. To learn about cosmetic dentistry contact your dentist or visit Lumineers.com.