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!

Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Connect with us on LinkedIn

Springfield Office          Rolla Office             Osage Beach Office

(417) 501-1048              (573) 426-5447          (573) 348-1466         

1701 West Sunshine        416 S. Bishop Ave.   4320 Osage Beach Pkwy

Springfield, MO 65807   Rolla, MO 65401      Osage Beach, MO. 65065

Mountain Grove Office              Aurora Office

(417) 926-1160                             (417) 308-3534

921-A N. Main                             1402 S. Elliott

Mountain Grove, MO 65711       Aurora, MO 65605

6 Tips to Help Ease Your Child’s Fear of the Dentist

For children, and even some adults, going to the dentist can be quite scary. You have this person you’ve never met before, sticking things in your mouth and it’s not very comfortable. In today’s blog, Access Dental & Dentures offers some tips to help you ease your child’s fear of going to the dentist.

1. Start Dental Care Early.

The earlier your child starts visiting the dentist, the better! It’s best if the very first visit starts at the age of 1 or when the first tooth is visible. This helps to create a dental home, where all dental needs from preventative to emergency can be taken care of.

2. Don’t Overly Discuss the Visit.

As the parent, it’s important that you stay calm. If you show any worry that the child should be scared, they will. When preparing for a visit, don’t include too many details. This will raise more questions, which can lead to unnecessary anxiety. Keep a positive attitude, but don’t give the child false hope that it’s going to be fun.

3. Use Your Words Carefully.

When discussing a visit to the dentist, don’t use any words such as shot, hurt or pain. Leave the vocabulary to your dentist in Springfield, MO. He or she is trained to work with children and can help ease their nerves by creating a game out of it and making it fun. You can use positive phrases such as clean, strong and healthy teeth to make the visit seem like a good thing.

4. Avoid Using Bribery.

By asking your child not to fuss or cry, you’re insinuating that there’s something to worry about. Attempting to use bribery will only increase their apprehension. In addition, promising a sugary treat also sends the wrong message after the dentist emphasizes having clean, healthy teeth by avoiding sweets that cause cavities. Instead, praise your child after the visit for their good behavior. Occasionally, you can surprise him or her with a sticker or small toy for encouragement (but don’t promise it in the beginning).

5. Role Play and Read Books about the Dentist.

You can find a variety of children’s books about the dentist that have fun colorful pictures, putting your child’s mind at ease. These books outline what the dental visit will include and uses funny characters to demonstrate that it’s not so bad. In addition to reading, you can also role play. Sometimes acting out the situation can help alleviate fears. Set up a pretend dentist’s chair and pretend to be the dentist. Check their teeth, talk about x-rays and pretend to look in their mouth and count teeth. Talk to your child about how to brush his or her teeth. Let your child play the role of the dentist too, to make it more fun. Now your child will be a little better prepared for the real thing.

6. Stress the Importance of Dental Hygiene.

Without scaring your child and telling him or her that all their teeth will fall out, stress the importance of clean, healthy teeth. Teach your child that visiting the dentist is a necessity, not a choice. Tell your child the dentist will help ensure their teeth are strong enough for him or her to eat. You might also explain that the dentist makes sure patients have a beautiful smile for years to come. The dentist will reinforce the importance of dental hygiene as well.

At Access Dental, we love kids! We work hard to make your child’s first dental experience a positive one. Our goal is to establish good dental care habits, help all children feel good about visiting the dentist and to teach them how to care for their teeth. Give our Southern Missouri dentist office a call at 877-DENTIST to schedule an appointment for your child today!

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

Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Connect with us on LinkedIn
Follow us on Google+





Springfield Office          Rolla Office          Osage Beach Office      Mountain Grove Office
(417) 501-1048              (573) 426-5447        (573) 348-1466                       (417) 926-1160
1701 West Sunshine      416 S. Bishop Ave.  4320 Osage Beach Pkwy       921 N. Main St.

Springfield, MO 65807   Rolla, MO 65401     Osage Beach, MO. 65065       Mountain Grove