Pediatric Dental Visits: Tips For A Positive Experience

A trip to the dentist should be a positive experience for a child. Start by explaining to your child that dentists are community helpers that work to keep them strong and healthy. Children often talk about community helpers in preschool and early elementary school and know these are safe people they can trust. Here are some other tips for building a positive relationship between children and dentists.

Preparing for a Visit

Take your child to the office for a visit before the appointment. This is especially important before their first visit, but the reminder can also help put children at ease who have been to the practice before. Point the office out when you drive by. Say, "Oh look! There's Dr. Tran's office. Remember watching TV and getting a prize when you got your teeth cleaned last time?"

Read books that feature characters going to the dentist in the weeks before your child's appointment. Watch videos of dental procedures with older children so they know what to expect. Take time to prepare children before the appointment instead of dropping the news on them at the last minute.

Children only see dentist twice a year in most cases. Talking about the dentist frequently keeps the experience fresh in their mind. This way it stays a familiar and comfortable experience from visit to visit.

Access You Own Feelings

Ask yourself how you feel about the dentist. If you have a phobia, you don't want your child to pick up on it. The most important thing you can do to help children feel comfortable at the dentist is to control your own fears, stay calm, and present a positive attitude. This is especially important during a child's first visit. If you're anxious and scared, it's possible that you'll transfer those feelings to your child - even without meaning to. Embrace the saying, "fake it until you make it."