If you are at the point where it’s time to begin taking your child to the dentist, and you have your dentist already selected, you need to know how to handle situations that might arise. In pediatric dentistry, it isn’t uncommon for children to be scared, especially if it is their first visit and they are in an unfamiliar environment, dealing close up with adults that they do not know. These fears are normal, but shouldn’t be allowed to fester as this will only continue or worsen the cycle. So how to conquer a child’s fear of visiting the dentist?
To start, hopefully you have selected a pediatric dentist, as these are dentists who work specifically with children. While general dentists may also be willing to work with children, it’s not something they have received any specialized training in and are not going to have offices that are set up in a manner that appeals to children. So, be certain that you are dealing with a pediatric dentist. Assuming you that you are, your child’s dentist’s office should be designed to make kids happy and feel unafraid. This could include things such as colorful wallpaper with child-pleasing designs, books for those who are old enough to read or to at least be able to look at the pictures on their own, toys of the sort that might make a child have to think a bit, which allows them to focus elsewhere and not worry about their impending appointment, games, and anything else that can keep a child busy for a short while. These sorts of things go a long way in settling a child’s nerves once they see that the dentist’s office is actually a fun place to be.
All staff members who have even incidental interactions with children should be happy and friendly, as well as able to relate to a child on their level. They should be able to at least attempt to soothe any fears and stay relaxed no matter what. There should be no indication that they feel irritated by a crying child, one who’s had an accident, or one who’s made a gigantic mess out of the waiting room. These are all things that are to be expected out of any facility that caters to young children, so all staff should be able to handle it gracefully.
Finally, the dentist himself should be pleasant and friendly and able to easily relate to children. He should be a careful, calm, and patient person who uses gentle techniques so as not to cause any pain or further fear. In some cases, he should also be able to provide a nice distraction, such as an age-appropriate toy, so that he may work while the child focuses elsewhere. In the end, it should be a positive experience for all.
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