Creating a Joyful Journey: Fun and Exciting Dental Visits for Kids

Dental Anxiety—A Common Problem
It’s not uncommon for children to feel nervous about dental visits. It can seem like a strange place, and their friends at school are good at filling them with scary stories. If this underlying fear is left alone, it has the potential to grow into adulthood.
This is one of the things that has led over a fourth of adults to suffer from dental anxiety. The other reasons for this vary greatly, but they often stem from childhood. It’s a large problem that we need to tackle before the number continues to grow. We don’t want our children growing up with fear of the dentist!
To prevent lasting dental anxiety, we want to ensure they have positive experiences while they are young. Sure, we can’t control every aspect of their lives, even if we want to. But what can we do to set them up for success when it comes to their oral health?
Engaging Atmosphere
Humans tend to be a little judgemental, and this tends to start young. Whenever you walk into a place for the first time, it’s perfectly normal to judge it by its appearance. If you go into a pediatric office, you expect it to be catered toward children. You want colors, toys, and things that make a little one smile! But too often, you walk into a stark-white clinic, silent and devoid of childlike charm.
Think back to when you were a child. Which place would you prefer to go to—the one that feels fun and inviting to you, or the boring, quiet office? When it comes to a dental office, it’s okay to judge the book by its cover! You want to be in a place where a child feels safe to be a kid.
Interactive Learning
Acclimating your child to the idea of going to the dentist helps to teach them about their own oral health. Unfortunately, this step is commonly overlooked. Thankfully, teaching your child about their oral health doesn’t have to be a struggle.
You can start by playing little games to educate them about their teeth before their appointment. Even while you’re waiting, you can teach them different things about their oral health. This can be as simple as showing them photos or diagrams of teeth and explaining what a molar is. It can be as simple or as advanced as you want it to be. You could even go as far as to explain how the enamel is the shield that protects their teeth from the monstrous cavities.
Taking the time to educate them in the waiting room not only gets them prepared to see the dentist, but it also helps them come up with different questions to ask. After all, teaching your children to communicate is always a good thing—yes, even when they ask awkward questions.
Dental Team Storytellers
Never underestimate the calming power of a good story! The amazing dental staff here at Pediatric Dental Specialists do more than just care for teeth. We are also magnificent storytellers. We strongly believe that there is power in a story, and that imagination can work wonders when it comes to a child’s fears. Sometimes taking the time to bond with a child and create fanciful stories with them is the trick that is needed to get them to relax at the dentist.
Innovative Techniques
Did you know that we have special tools and techniques designed specifically for children? The more you think about it, the more it makes sense to do things this way. After all, children are naturally smaller than adults and require smaller tools. Happier, more vibrant colors are more likely to bring a smile to their face. The stories that are told are also better when geared toward children. Think about it. Wouldn’t your little one prefer to listen to their dentist tell a story about how the princess saved the caste?
Rewards and Positive Reinforcement
One, fool-proof way to create a positive association with a trip to the dentist is rewards. These rewards can be whatever you desire. Maybe they get a toy after their appointment or stop off to get a special snack on the way home. If you go the snack route, be sure to talk to the dentist first to check for any potential restrictions.
Focusing on the Fun During Dental Visits
With how prevalent dental anxiety is, it’s not a surprise that it can feel overwhelming to bring little ones to the dentist. Take a deep breath, you’ve got this! Try to focus on creating fun, engaging experiences around your little one’s oral health journey, and that will go a long way to set them up for success.
As always, if you are ready to get your little ones into a leading pediatric dentist, you can jump online and request an appointment in just a few clicks. We look forward to helping you keep your child’s teeth shining and clean!