As a family dentist, I often encounter hysterical and terrified children, brought in by distraught and stressed-out parents. I find that these situations often originate from a lack of understanding of what a trip to the dentist Edinburgh entails, maintained by persistent negative stereotypes about the “horrors” of the dental office.
It certainly doesn’t have to be like this. Your children can actually love – or at least not dread – their regular trips to the family dentist, if you present them in a positive light.
1. Begin at Home
Your child’s dental care begins at home, with regular brushing and proper dental hygiene maintenance. Make the best of this time of day by initiating jovial conversations about the reasons why everyone should brush their teeth, use mouthwash, and visit the dentist. Familiarity with the subject matter and happy experiences at home will make the trip to the dentist an extension of an already-pleasant routine.
2. Start Early
As with everything, introducing your child to the family dentist early in life is crucial for a natural acceptance. Your child needs to be acquainted with the dentist before the risk of misconceptions or anxiety appears. Plus, he or she should start getting proper dental care when the first tooth appears anyway (or no later than his/her first birthday).
3. Make It Part of the Day, Not the Whole Day
Try to avoid making a trip to the dentist the main event of the day – even the most positive experiences can be met with trepidation if too much attention is placed on them. Instead, make it one of many things you plan on doing that day and include your child in activities leading up to the appointment. The busy schedule will provide a distraction and prevent any build-up of stress.
4. Bring Fun with You
Be prepared to tote along favorite toys and comforting objects, to ensure psychological support in a foreign environment. Of course, you cannot bring any items that might interfere with the dentist’s ability to perform the checkup, but small toys, comforting blankets, and other objects will help your child relax by distracting him from all the foreign, scary objects in the examination room.
5. Keep Your Experiences To Yourself
This may go without saying, but you should keep your own fears, issues, and past negative experiences to yourself, unless mentioning them will be constructive. Even so, it may be wise to avoid introducing your child to your own experiences, as they might interpret them differently than you intend. For instance, while you might try to convey how you have no fear of the dentist and even enjoy taking care of your health, the only keyword your child might remember can be “fear.” Your child isn’t likely to pick up on the reassurance you intended and may rather absorb the potential for fear you are trying to explain away.
6. Choose Wisely
The truth is, not every dentist can provide appropriate care for children. A good family dentist should not only possess a special set of skills for handling young or scared children, but also focus on setting up a friendly and welcoming environment. Consider whether your dentist has a special chair, toys in the waiting room, or the right approach towards your child. If not, you might want to consider a different family dentist to suit your child’s needs and personality.
7. Downplay The Day
While your child should be informed about where you’re heading and what will happen once you reach the destination, avoid discussing it too much in advance. Placing too much emphasis on it will cause your child to worry about the future trip. Unless you explain your trips to the grocery store in such detail, avoid doing this for the visit to the Edinburgh private dentists as well. When you do discuss it, choose positive terms such as “clean”, “strong,” and “healthy teeth” to make your child feel confident and optimist about this experience.
8. Arrange A Tour In Advance
Your family dentist will likely have child-friendly practices in place to welcome a new patient. Ask if your child can tour the office in advance of their first checkup. This might include meeting the reception and medical staff, visiting an exam room, and “playing dental appointment” in the chair. This way, when your child comes back for his or her appointment, there is already a comfortable familiarity with the environment.
9. Be Proud of Your Little Champ
Positive reinforcement is always a good idea for making children comfortable with new situations. Encourage your child by expressing your pride over how great they look in the chair, how sparkly their smile is, and how brave they were during the appointment. Your child will reflect on his/her experience as something they “conquered” and did well at – making the next visit a fun adventure.
In the end, your child’s experience with the family dentist will have as much to do with the way you position it as it will with their actual experience. Your attitude and behavior will have the greatest impact on how they feel about their first dental experiences. If you’re comfortable, confident, and happy, your child will likely be as well.
Featured images:
- License: Royalty Free or iStock source: 123rf.com
- License: Royalty Free or iStock source: 123rf.com
- License: Royalty Free or iStock source: 123rf.com
Dr. Jeffrey Pass, DDS, has been in private practice since 1987 and emphasizes cosmetic, restorative, and implant dentistry. A graduate of NYU College of Dentistry, Dr. Passpracticed privately in Manhattan, NY prior to establishing South Florida Dental Care in 1993. He regularly attends continuing education classes and is a member of the American Dental Association, the South Florida District Dental Association, South Broward Dental Society, and the Florida branch of The Seattle Study Club.
