6 Tips to Ease Your Child's Fear of the Dentist

A trip to the dentist can be intimidating for children if they don't know what to expect ahead of time. A little preparation can go a long way for getting your child ready for a visit to the dentist. Our dental offices in Southern Missouri strive to provide a great environment for children and the adults too. If you have a little one that's a bit nervous about their trip to the dentist, these tips will help to make it easier on the both of you. 

Talk About It
Sometimes simply taking the mystery out of the experience is enough to ease anxiety. Talk to your kids in a positive way about what goes on during a dental visit. Share your personal experiences with them to let them know that it doesn't scare you. Don't over-discuss it though. Keep everything simple, matter-of-fact, and to the point. If you don't make a big deal out of it they will be more likely to think of their visit to the dentist as a normal, unscary event.   

Avoid Using Bribery
You want a trip to the dentist to be something your child sees as a normal occurrence for the future health of their teeth, not something they have to be tricked into doing. Praise them for good behavior before and during the visit. Instead of promising a treat for going, you might make it a tradition to do something special after the visit that they can look forward to in the future. Not really a reward, just a fun event that you share together. 

Role Play
Practice for your child's first visit to the dentist by taking turns pretending to be the dentist. This will help them get used to having someone that close to their face and looking around inside their mouth. After you have given them a good idea about what the dentist will be doing, let them have a turn checking out your teeth too. You can also find lots of fun books on the subject to read together that will ease their fears.

Start Dental Care Early
The earlier your child starts visiting the dentist, the better. If Access Dental & Dentures is a place that they are used to at a young age, the more comfortable they will feel when it's their turn to be in the chair. It's best if their first visit starts at age 1 or when the first tooth is visible.

Lead By Example
Letting your child see you go through a routine checkup is a wonderful way to show them how easy it can be. After seeing mom or dad go through the motions, they will have more courage to step up into that chair themselves. If you need to have something a little more invasive done or you have a painful cavity that is being taken care of, try your best not to speak negatively about any of it in front of your child. Those words can cause a fear that will grow quickly in the imagination of a child.

Find the Right Dentist
It's extremely important to find a dentist that you feel comfortable with and that you know is knowledgeable and trustworthy. All of our dentists in Southern Missouri are excellent at working with people of all ages. We will make your child's first dental experience, as well as every visit after that, a positive one. Our goal is to help all children feel good about visiting the dentist and to establish good dental care habits they will take with them throughout life. 

The tips above will go a long way in helping your child feel comfortable and confident about a trip to the dentist. At Access Dental & Dentures, we love kids! Call 877-DENTIST to reach the dentist office in Southern Missouri that is closest to you. You can schedule an appointment for your child that will put them on the road to a life with healthy teeth.

We want to be your dentist because your family deserves a great smile!

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