Five ways to help your child overcome their fear of the dentist
Going for a trip to the dentist can sometimes feel like the ultimate battle between you and your child.
As paediatric dentists we see firsthand how young children can become overwhelmed and upset at their first visit. Luckily we’re always prepared for the tears and the potential tantrums – in fact this type of dentistry means that we’re specially trained at handling these kinds of situations.
However, if these fears aren’t addressed early on, they can develop into more serious dental anxiety and have a lasting impact on the health of your child’s teeth.
UNDERSTANDING DENTAL ANXIETY
Dental anxiety in children can occur for a number of different reasons. This may be:
- An expectation of pain
- Fear of the unknown
- A lack of trust with the dentist
- The physical or sensory overload of being in a new environment
Often the key to overcoming your child’s fear is by not forcing them on the chair, but instead, taking small steps regularly to get them used to the dentist.
Here are five straight-forward things you can do to help your child overcome their distress of the dentist:
TIP 1: START DENTAL VISITS EARLY
We recommend booking your child in for their first appointment around the age of six to 12 months old after their first tooth has erupted.
This helps us start earning the trust of your child from a very young age in the hopes that eventually when they come to see us they won’t feel overwhelmed or vulnerable when they come into the clinic.
From there on, maintaining regular appointments will not only be important for your little one’s development and overall oral health, but it will help us to establish a ‘dental home’ for your child that they can feel comfortable in.
TIP 2: USE WORDS THAT CREATE POSITIVE MENTAL IMAGERY
Children are more likely to form images in their minds based on the words we use to describe things, so it’s important to use positive language when discussing the dentist.
Avoid words or phrases like “needle”, “pain”, and “it won’t hurt that much” as they could have negative connotations attached to them.
As a general rule it’s better to keep your explanation simple and without too many details. For example you might say to your child, “We’re going to visit our friends at the dentist soon and we’re going to get our teeth counted.”
TIP 3: EXAMINE YOUR OWN RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DENTIST
How you personally relate to the dentist will make a big impact on your child when it comes time for their visit.
Of course we know that children hear and watch everything we say and do, so if you yourself have dental anxiety then you need to be hyper-aware that you’re not passing on those same feelings to your child.
Ensure your children don’t hear you say things like, “I hate the dentist” or, “I’m scared to go back to the dentist” as that will only add to their stress.
TIP 4: THE DENTIST ISN’T A CONSEQUENCE
A trip to the dentist shouldn’t be seen as a punishment or consequence for your little one not brushing their teeth properly. Even joking about the dentist in this way can add to your child’s dental anxiety and make them think of the dentist as their very own ‘boogeyman’.
Children should think of their dental home as a place they go to help their teeth stay strong and healthy. If your child is struggling with maintaining good oral health, talk to the paediatric dentist beforehand and they will help to demonstrate easy ways your child can look after their teeth during the appointment.
TIP 5: EMPOWER YOUR CHILD WITH KNOWLEDGE THEY’LL LOVE!
There’s a lot of great content out there aimed at kids that feature dentists in a positive light. If your child is feeling nervous it’s a great idea to sit down ahead of time and go through some resources together.
We also keep an eye out for kids TV shows that feature trips to the dentist and have shared these on our Instagram page previously – here’s one for Peppa Pig and one for Paw Patrol.
You could also come early to your appointment and spend some time reading the books in our waiting room to help calm your child’s nerves before they go in for their consultation.
TALK TO YOUR CHILD’S DENTIST IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING
It can feel like a difficult hurdle when your child feels nervous about visiting the dentist, however the last thing we want to happen is for their dental checks to be put off which could lead to all sorts of health problems now and in the future.
In fact that scenario could easily escalate to a situation where your child develops issues with their teeth or jaw concerns which eventually may require more invasive treatments only heightening their fears.
Having regular appointments will lead to better outcomes where your little one not only knows what to expect but also feels empowered and in charge of their oral health.
If your child is feeling anxious or afraid of visiting the dentist, let us know at the time of booking. Appointments can be made via phone on 02 9188 0202 or through our online booking system.
This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics and to help begin the conversation with your children’s dentist. It should not be used as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your health care professional prior to incorporating this as part of your child’s diet or health regimen.