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Dental Anxiety in Kids

August 26th, 2010 | Author:

Why is it that when children get sick, parents immediately bring them to the pediatrician instead of a general practitioner, but when children suffer from dental problems, it never occurs to them to bring their kids to a dentist that specializes in children. Some parents will say that there is really no difference at all. A general dentist and a child dentist are just the same.

However, experts say that there is a big difference between these two types of dentists. This difference lies in the way they handle children. A child dentist will know how to handle a child patient well while a general dentist will not. Child dentists know and understand how children feel about dentists and will handle them in a gentle and soothing manner.

Don’t Wait for Dental Problems to Happen

Most of the time, parents who have children that are afraid of dentists wait until their kids suffer from serious dental problems before they bring them to a dentist. If you want your kids to look forward to dental visits, then make sure that your child’s first visit to the dentist is a pleasant and fun experience. It would be traumatic for a child if his or her first visit to the dentist involves some serious treatment such as tooth extraction.

The first time that you bring your child to a dentist, make sure that it is only for a check-up or a cleaning. This will give them the idea that dental visits are fun and not scary. A positive first dental experience will give them something to look forward to in the future.

Distractions Can Help

One effective way to keep your child from feeling fearful about a dental appointment is to allow him or her to bring a toy which can serve as a “positive distraction”. As the dentist is doing his or her work on your child, your child’s focus will not be on what the dentist is doing but on the toy. A “positive distraction” can also take form of a favorite book or blanket. It can be anything that will make your child feel secure. If you have teens, you can let them bring their iPod so they can listen to music while the dentist is doing their treatment.

Give Rewards for Good Behavior

Giving your child rewards is a good way to ensure good behavior. Be sure to let your child know ahead of time that you will be giving him or her a reward for good behavior in the dentist’s clinic. Younger kids will find toys or books very appealing while older kids may prefer to get favors or treats like movies or trips.

Is Dental Sedation Allowed for Kids?

Dental sedation on kids has drawn differing views from all across the industry. Most dentists let the parents decide whether or not they want their kids to be sedated. Some dentists use nitrous oxide on younger children. However, for children who display extreme behaviors, a stronger compound is used.

So child dentists may seem really unnecessary but bringing your children to one can help prevent them from experiencing dental anxiety.

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