Going to the dentist can feel scary for some children, and that’s okay! There are ways to make it easier.
Why Do Some Children Feel Anxious at the Dentist?
Children may feel worried about the dentist for different reasons:
- Hearing scary stories about dentists.
- A family member also feels nervous about the dentist.
- A past experience that wasn’t fun.
- Moving to a new dentist.
- General anxiety about new places or people.
- A specific fear, like needles or gagging.
What Can Parents Do to Help?
Here are some ways you can help your child feel more comfortable:
✔ Listen to their feelings and reassure them.
✔ Talk positively about the dentist and why dental care is important.
✔ Take them to regular check-ups so they get used to the dentist.
✔ Use positive words when talking about dental visits.
✔ Set a good example by showing that you feel calm at the dentist.
✔ Bring distractions like music, a favourite toy, or a video to help them relax.
✔ Encourage them to try small steps, like sitting in the chair or meeting the dentist.
✔ Ask the dentist for advice.
What to Avoid:
✖ Don’t use scary words like “pain” or “hurt.”
✖ Don’t share your own bad experiences.
✖ Don’t make threats like “If you don’t behave, you’ll get a big injection!”
✖ Don’t skip dental visits, as this can make anxiety worse over time.
How Can the Dentist Help?
Dentists understand that some children feel worried, so they use special techniques to help:
- Short, fun visits to help kids get used to the dentist.
- Showing and explaining tools before using them.
- Positive words and rewards like stickers or praise.
- Stop signals so your child feels in control.
Sometimes children need more help to cope with dental treatment. This could be Sedation or General Anaesthetic. Your dentist may suggest this, and if needed will make a referral to either Community Dental Service, or Dental hospital.
Check out this website for more help: https://dental.llttf.com