Helping Your Child Feel Comfortable at the Dentist Before, During, and After Appointments

New Things Can Be Difficult for Everyone

Going to a new place can be a bit nerve-wracking for anyone, at any age. Think about the last time you had to go to a new doctor. There’s a high chance you had a few butterflies in your stomach as you walked up to that building. Considering this, is it really any surprise that our children get nervous when coming to the dentist? Not only is it a new doctor, but it’s often a completely new experience.

If you’ve got a child who puts on the brakes when it comes to new experiences like this, we have good news for you. You, as the parent, play a big role in shaping their experience. Don’t worry, we’ll tell you how you can help your child feel comfortable in the new environment of a dental office.

Before the Appointment: Setting the Tone at Home

Helping your child feel comfortable at the dentist starts before you even leave the house. In fact, it starts the moment you make the appointment. When you’re talking to your child about their upcoming appointment, it’s important that you use a calm, comforting voice, and stick to positive words. Why does this really matter? Well, dental anxiety is very common among adults, so there’s a chance you have a touch of it yourself. If this is the case, your own nerves may be traveling straight to your child through your voice and word choice.

Preparing your child for the appointment can be done in more ways than just a simple chat about what’s to come. Take a trip to your local library to see what books they have on trips to the dentist. We can almost guarantee that they will have a whole handful for you within a few minutes. What if your child isn’t much of a reader? YouTube is packed full of videos about a child’s first trip to the dentist! Both of these options are great for helping acclimate your child to the idea.

During the Appointment: Supporting Your Child in the Moment

When it’s time for the appointment, every word you say counts! Do everything you can to remain calm and encouraging, whether you are dealing with your own bundle of nerves or not. Let the dental team lead while still remaining present for your child. Don’t worry, we’ll be here to help you every step of the way. Don’t forget praise and reassurance! A little bit of positive encouragement goes a long way to helping a child feel like they can accomplish anything. If you start applying pressure instead, it’s amazing how fast many children decide they are done.

How Pediatric Dental Teams Help Kids Feel at Ease

What does the dental team do to help kids? We’ve got lots of tricks up our sleeves. We’re filled with child-friendly explanations to help kids feel informed on what’s going on, whether they are 2 or 8. We pace things based on each child. Does your little one need a break? We’re ready to work with them! We do what we can to use techniques designed to reduce fear and overwhelm in even the littlest patients.

After the Appointment: Reinforcing Positive Feelings

Once you walk out of the appointment, your job isn’t done! It’s time to praise your little one for everything they did. Remember, you’re praising their effort, not just behavior. For example, if your toddler decides the light on the dentist’s forehead signaled the end of the appointment, they still did an amazing job at getting in the chair and letting the hygienist check out their teeth. Every small step counts! Talk to your child about what went well, being sure to frame the experience as a simple part of their routine.

When to Share Concerns With the Dental Team

Even the littlest of patients have a past. If our dental team doesn’t know about some of these things, we won’t know to help your child through potential triggers. Does your child have anxiety about the dentist? Let us know! Do they have sensory sensitivities? Also, let us know; we might have some tricks up our sleeves. The same thing goes for previous medical experiences. Occasionally, that hospital stay at the age of 2 might pop up in their subconscious when they’re visiting us—it’s normal! 

Just give us a heads up, if you can.

While talking about communication, remember that we are always here to answer any questions you may have. The best way to help your child create a healthy relationship with their oral health is by forming a team between the dental staff and the parent. With your help, we can make the number of children with dental anxiety go way down.

Are you worried that your child will always be nervous about the dentist? With time and consistency, that can change! However, if your child’s dental anxiety is to where a standard appointment seems to do more harm than good, reach out to us. There are ways to help your child’s smile be healthy all while keeping them comfortable.

Remember, it’s teamwork, and it can take a while for a child to become comfortable at the dentist. So if you don’t have that appointment on the calendar yet, hop on over and request one online!