Bringing a young child to the dentist for the first time may not be a major problem. However, if he or she has heard from adults around him or her or from other children about painful experiences, horror stories, or other tales of woe from visits to the dentist, this can create anxiety and apprehension.
It almost seems natural for people to be wary or nervous about visiting the dentist. In reality, though, modern dentistry is a far cry from the things that people had to endure the hundred years ago or longer. In those days, visiting the dentist wasn’t something most people did, but when they had major tooth pain and other issues, it was something to dread.
So how do we sue a young child’s mind about their first dental visit?
The most important thing to do is understand why they are apprehensive. If it is their first visit, then they don’t have any direct experience of their own. Find out why they are nervous. If they heard a friend at school talk about it, or overheard an adult complaining about the pain they had to deal with, be honest.
Let the child know that this is simply a checkup and cleaning and that there will not be any pain involved with their visit.
If they are experiencing an injury to their teeth, this is their baby teeth that you’re talking about, not their permanent teeth. Many dentists will avoid doing any permanent work on children’s teeth for that specific reason.
Offer them a code word.
Many children respond to code words in a positive way. This could be a word that they tell you when they are feeling overly anxious. If you hear that code word, hold their hand, remind them that this is just a regular checkup and cleaning and not much different than them brushing their teeth in the morning and at night.
The Dental Centre can also provide some useful tips and a comfortable environment for young children visiting the dentist for the first time.