Emotionally Preparing Your Child For Dental Work

Posted on: 20 March 2015

If your child has an upcoming dental appointment that will involve extensive dental work, you might be just as worried as they are. The first step is to make sure that you have a good pediatric dentist that you trust. Here are four things that you can do to help your child emotionally prepare for dental work.

1. Have Your Dentist Explain What to Expect

At your child's initial consultation, make sure that your child knows what to expect. Visualizing the location where a procedure will take place and all of the details surrounding a procedure will help them be ready for it. During the procedure, the dentist can explain things step-by-step if your child is awake for the process. Dentists should talk directly with your child, and not just relay pertinent information to you as the parent.

2. Check Your Own Emotions

Of course you want your child's experience to be free of pain and discomfort. If your child is going to experience some stress or pain at the dentist, you might be worried for them. Your child will pick up on these cues which can cause them to worry as well. Check your own emotions first in order give your child proper support.

3. Explain Your Own Experiences

If you have had dental procedures in the past or as a child, you can explain the process and how you got through it. This can normalize the process and help your child not feel so alone. Steer clear of any extreme stories that might scare your child and don't minimize what they are going through.

4. Make Time to Listen

Make sure to give your child a chance to talk with you about their worries or concerns. If they have questions, they can ask you or make a list to go over with the dentist at the appointment. Make sure to ask your child if they have any worries or how they are feeling. Be there to support them through the process.

Helping your child get emotionally ready for a dental procedure will help calm nerves and make the process go more smoothly. It might not be something your child will look forward to, but hopefully will make a procedure less of a scarring experience. As the parent, it is up to you to find a dentist that specializes in pediatric or family dentistry that help put your child at ease. Making memories of your child's early dental experiences as easy as possible will help form a lifetime of committed oral care. Talk to experts like Family Dental Center TriCities, PC for more information.

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Anyone who provides a service specifically for the youngest among us knows that treating kids must be approached very differently from treating adults. Children are not like adult patients. They require a dental team that makes children feel safe and secure at every appointment. The pediatric dental staff also needs to understand how to work with parents as well as young patients. As a pediatric dental hygienist and a mom, I understand that specific needs of children when they are visiting the dentist. This blog will explain exactly what kids need from a dental staff and will give options for making the dental office a welcoming environment to children. We can give a whole new generation healthy smiles by making pediatric dentistry the best it can be.