7 Tips to Relieve Your Child's Dental Anxiety
When your child fears the dentist, it can make for an unpleasant experience. It’s easy to blame this on the tooth-frightening sounds and images put out by clinics and television, but ultimately it’s all about how you approach your child with what will happen during their visit.
By intervening early, you can help your child conquer their fear and enjoy more relaxed visits to the children’s dentist In Calgary.
How Can You Relieve Your Child’s Dental Anxiety?
- Take your child to the dentist as soon as possible. When you remove the fear of “what happens” early on, you’re not only training them right away to be comfortable with the dental office, but you’re also removing any “mystery” that builds up over time and leads to fear.
- Outline the steps of what will happen as you talk through it together, especially if your child is young. This will help them to know what to expect at the dental office. You can do this by showing them videos of dentists performing a procedure or reading books about it. The anxiety will disappear when you explain what is happening and that there’s nothing to be afraid of in the exam procedure!
- Have a positive attitude. Don’t underestimate how important a positive attitude is when visiting a pediatric dentist near you. Help them explore their fears by showing them that they can handle any situation during their visit. Remind them that once they are in the dental room, their job is to be a good patient and enjoy it!
- Schedule a pre-appointment visit. Taking your child to briefly visit a kid’s dentist near you before the actual visit helps alleviate any anxiety. The visit will allow them to know the dentist and help them build the rapport necessary to ensure the child is comfortable.
- Don’t be anxious because the children can sense your nervousness, making it hard for them to be comfortable at the dental office.
- Take your child to a friendly dental office. Looking for a dental office that deals with children or has a kids’ department is crucial. Most pediatric dentists in Calgary have created a kid’-friendly environment designed to relax your child. Also, most children’s dentists are professional and are trained to handle different kids’ personalities easily.
- Use distractions. You can distract your child by engaging them in conversation, telling stories, or allowing them to play with their favorite toy.
What Will The Dentist Use to Keep Your Child Calm?
Most kid dentists can use sedation dentistry to relax a child and help them cooperate during dental treatment. Because the child is unaware of the procedure, they are more receptive to questions and directions. The overall result is a more comfortable dental visit. Kids who experience sedation dentistry are generally more cooperative, and the dental process can be completed faster.
Laughing gas is an effective sedative and is often used on children. The sedative is delivered through a mask that covers the child’s nose. It makes the child feel relaxed and less nervous while undergoing the procedure. The sedation has low to no side effects, and it takes effect quickly and wears down quickly. This means that once the process is done, the dentist will not use any medication to lower the sedatives, and your child will be ready to go home.
Another option is oral sedation, which doesn’t require needles. Patients prone to anxiety are typically given a prescription pill an hour before their appointment. Once given the pill, they’ll feel completely relaxed and can even focus on the task at hand.
To prepare a child for sedation, parents should follow instructions from their pediatric dentist. These instructions are essential for children who are going under general anesthesia. Parents should ensure that their child does not consume solid food or liquids for at least one day before their appointment. Clear liquids can be given two hours before the appointment. In addition, the child should have no solid foods or drink any liquids after midnight on the day of the appointment.
Schedule an Appointment
Visit Chaparral Valley for more information about dental anxiety in children and how you can reduce it.