It is no secret that many kids have a lot of built up fear about their visits to the dentist’s office. However, on average, a child will make 10 trips to the dentist before even beginning school, which makes it imperative you help your child to overcome the fear of going to the dentist. So here are some tips to help kids get more comfortable in the dentist’s chair, and help you breathe easier this year.
Start as Young as Possible
The first step in getting your child to become comfortable with to dentist is to start the visits as early as possible. You should take your child in to see the dentist at the age of one, or when the first tooth appears, whichever comes first. Make them feel comfortable and familiar with the local NW Calgary dental clinic and office, and the employees there.
Keep a Positive Attitude
Children feed off of the emotion of their parents. If you are upbeat and positive about the upcoming trip to the dentist, chances are your child will mirror your attitude.
Have a Practice Visit
As Dr. Knebel Murray suggests, it helps to have a pretend visit in your home for nervous first-timers. Have your child lie back and open their mouth. You can then use a toothbrush to simply count their teeth. This kind of practice will go a long way towards making your child feel more relaxed when the real trip to the dentist’s chair occurs.
Avoid Bringing the Child with You to Your Own Dental Appointments
Some parents think that bringing their kids with them to their own dental appointments will help the kids become more comfortable with the dentist’s office. Experts will tell you this is a mistake. If you have any anxiety at all about your visit, your kids will sense this. Also, adult dental practices can be much more complex than pediatric dental offices, which will may give your child a poor impression of the dentist.
Stay with Your Child in the Examination Room
Many dentists will ask parents to stay with their children in the exam room, especially during their first visit to the dentist. The comforting presence of a parent in the room can make kids feel much more relaxed in the dentist’s chair.
If you follow these five tips, you will find that your child is much more comfortable about going to the dentist. The key is to stay positive about the experience and to limit the stress beforehand. Nearly every child can become a happy dental patient if you work to make it happen.
